
aassJQ_C^lSA 



Book. 



■ C7 



.r«$a. 



■ ADVENTURE? OF A SOLDIEB; 

WRLTTEN BY HIMSELF. 



' ■ 7 



THE MEMOIRS 



EDWARD COSTELLO, E.S.F. 

!/ 

FORMERLY A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE, 

LATE CAPTAIN IN THE BRITISH LEGION, AND NOW ONE OF THE WARDENS OF 

THE TOWER OF LONDON; 

COMPRISING 

NARRATIVES OF THE CAMPAIGNS IN THE PENINSULA UNDER THE 

DUKE OP WELLINGTON, 

AND THE SUBSEQUENT CIVIL WARS IN SPAIN. 



What, must I tell it thee ? 
As o'er my ev'ning fire I musing sat 
Some few days since, my mind's eye backward tum'd 
Upon the various changes I have pass'd — 
How in my youth with gay attire allur'd, 
And all the grand accoutrements of war, 
I left my peaceful home : Then my first battles, 
When clashing arms, and sights of blood were new : 
Then all the after-chances of the war ; 
Ay, and that field, a well- fought field it was. 

COUNT BASIL. 



&ecottti fEfcitton. 

LONDON: 
COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS, 

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 
1852. 




V 



.V 



^.oV 



LONDON : 

Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. 












I 

\ 
X 



TO 

GENERAL SIR A. F. BARNARD, K.C.B., K.C.H.. 

&c. &c. &c. 

COLONEL OF THE RIFLE BRIGADE, 

AND GOVERNOR OF CHELSEA COLLEGE, 

THIS VOLUME 

IEsj most trspcctfullg IBetrtcatctr, 

BY THE AUTHOR, 

EDWARD COSTELLO. 



PREFACE 

TO 

THE FIRST EDITION. 



So many Lives of Soldiers have already been written, 
and by abler pens than mine, and so many tales have 
arisen out of the chequered scenes of the late Peninsular 
War, and the short existence of the British Legion, 
that I dare not be very sanguine of creating for my 
work any great degree of interest. 

But every man's life is a volume of change, felt and 
expressed according to his peculiar dispositions and 
feelings, which are as varied under a military as they 
can be under a civil life. Could the never to be for- 
gotten Tom Crawley but give his own detail ! — could 
Long Tom of Lincoln, once one of the smartest of our 
regiment, now the forlorn bone-picker of Knights- 
bridge, but pen his own eventful track — could Wilkie, 
Hetherington, Plunket, and many others of those 
humbler heroes, conquerors in such well-contested fields 
as Bodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, and Waterloo, &c, 
whose exploits form the principal attractions in this 
volume, and whose stubborn spirits and perforated 



VI PREFACE. 

bodies formed key-stones for the fame of our immortal 
Wellington, whose standard might have found a sandy 
support but for the individual bravery of the soldiers 
of his invincible divisions: could they but recount 
their varied casts of fortune— who would fail to read 
their histories and help to rear a cypress to their 
memories ? 

With these considerations, I send this volume forth, 
trusting that the reader will bear in mind that he 
who wrote it was both actor and spectator in the 
scenes he has narrated, and feels assured that by their 
perusal, he will be enabled to guess at what is gene- 
rally felt and experienced by the individual soldier. 

In the British Legion I held a medium rank. I saw 
not only what its soldiers were, but caught a glance at 
their officers : with them my military career flickered 
out its last moments of existence. Its brighter fortunes, 
short as they were, however, gave me * sufficient oppor- 
tunity to value those unfortunate men — my humbler 
comrades, and to be convinced by their deeds, that the 
British soldier, with sickness, oppression, the lash, and 
other distresses, still possessed his old spirit, and was 
as fitted to reap laurels as he had been in more glorious 
times. 

EDWARD COSTELLO. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introduction of myself to the reader—To the service— Who would not be a 
Soldier ?— A recruit — Wilkie— Cupid's Row-dow— The service endangered by 
another— Arrival at Liverpool— I am made prisoner, but not by the French- 
Recaptured by our sergeant— Lichfield round-house— St. Paul's— I join my 
regiment, and the regiment joins us— Great numbers of rank and file burnt 
alive ....... 1 



CHAPTER II. 

I join Captain O'Hare's company— He falls in a passion— The "fair" and 
"unfair" appointment — Disappointment — Things of a private nature — Tom 
Crawley— An example— The Hero — How to catch "flats" in "squads"— 
New way to tap a barrel — A Rifleman's plan for sweeping chimneys and tap- 
rooms — Pipe-clay and parade — The regiment embark for Portugal. . 6 

CHAPTER III. 

Tom Plunket's Military Career . . . . 11 

CHAPTER IV. 

Arrival in Portugal — Crauford's forced marches — Teetotalism with a vengeance — 
The effect of the opposite extreme — Spanish mode of keeping a man from 
stealing wine — False reports — Talavera — We arrive the day after the fight — A 
battle scene— Sir Arthur Wellesley — General Cuesta — Dough Boy Hill — The 
fever — I am taken ill— Elvas hospital — How to cure a fever — Convalescence — 
Burial scenes— Our Sextons — March to my regiment— The Germans— Pig- 
skins in danger, our own also — Captain Pakenham — Hanging matters — Two 
dozen of each — Not sham pain — German discipline « » 19 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

Old Trowsers— Sleeping and waking — O'Hare again — Colonel Beckwith— Two 
upon one — Meagher— Barba del Puerco — General Crauford taken by surprise 
— The Portuguese incorporation with the light division — Rodrigo — Gallegos — 
The Beacon night scenes on picquet — Lord Wellington — Napoleon's Marriage 
— Crauford's stratagem— The French spy— We retreat to Fort Conception. 28 

CHAPTER VI. 



Villa de Mula — Night expedition to Villa de Puerco — Both parties retire — 
Death of Colonel Talbot— A soldier's grave — The effects of a miscarriage — 
Fort Conception blown up — A mistake and no mistake— Another mistake, a 
ball in the right knee — The bridge over the Coa— A friend in need, a friend 
indeed — Charity abroad and at home — A surgeon's advice — A blessing — 
A cough, an uncomfortable companion — Spanish apathy — We •arrive at 
Fraxedas ....... 34 



CHAPTER VII. 



Mondego— The Coimbra— Figueras — The maggots— Lisbon— Battle of Busaco — 
Retreat to Torres Vedras — Lord Wellington's generalship — Belem — Jack 
ashore and Jonathan also — Yankey and Lankey — Billy M'Nabb — The High- 
land kite and Lowland tail — Josh. Hetherington — Sperum Poco — Portuguese 
piety — Aruda — Doing what the enemy left undone — Tom Crawley again — In 
state — A hot berth — Our enemies laugh at Tom in his glory . 41 



CHAPTER VIII. 



The enemy retire upon Santarem — We retire upon Valine — The bridge over the 
Rio Mayor— The French out-lying sentries — Their camp ground — Comparative 
quietude — The still — Escape from assassination — Tom Crawley's ghost- story 
—The "Death and Glory men"— The charms of a Brunswickian appetite — 
Their desertions — Sergeant Fleming — His court-martial — We meet our enemies 
on the water and contend — A comment on both sides . . 50 



CHAPTER IX. 



General Crauford leaves for England— Sir William Erskine takes the command 
— Mounseer Strauss — We enter Santarem — Scenes of horror— Mile posts of 
the "grande armeV — Retaliations of the Portuguese — Two upon one — 
Pombal — Smart work — German gallantry — Auction — A new division — 
Redinha — An accident — Long Tom of Lincoln — The deserter — A retur of 
favours . . . . * . 58 



CONTENTS. IX 



CHAPTER X. 

Our march upon Condeixa — Tom Crawley again — Hot and cold — Affair of Casal 
Nova — Death of Major Stewart — The French continue retreating — The two 
brothers — Night scene — The French continue their havoc — The Caeadore — 
The pet goat — Lord Wellington again — Our old Colonel — The promise of the 
Staff— The Recruits — British enthusiasm inspired — The two French prisoners 
— Particulars of Massena's retreat and state of his troops — St. Patrick's Day — 
If I had a donkey— The river Caira — Our distressing privations — O'Brien and 
the old Patrone — Arrival at Friexedas — Adjutant Stewart killed — Sabugal — 
Carrying of the enemy's position— Encomiums of our Colonel — Death of 
Lieut. A .'^uthnot — Disagreeable bed-fellow — A light on the subject — Evacua- 
tion of Portugal by the French, Almeida excepted — The British follow into 
Spain — Arrival at Gallegos — The enemy active in Rodrigo — The skulker — Poor 
Burke — Expedition and disappointment in search of a convoy . 66 

CHAPTER XI. 

Our advance videttes, and the French cavalry — Manoeuvring in front of Villa 
Formosa — The Suttler and the Dragoons — Sergeant-Major Sharp — Morning 
of the 5th May — General Crauford returns — Portuguese welcome — Fuentes 
d'Onor— French Dragoon challenges to single combat — Retreat on Navez 
d'Aver — Charges of cavalry — A deep game by the French — Squaring it with 
the enemy — The 79th Highlanders — A prisoner against his will — The French 
sentry and General Crauford — The Light Dragoons again— Sergeant-Major 
Sharp again — Scene of discipline — That lash disappointed — The German 
fratricide ..... 77 

CHAPTER XII. 

Almeida closely invested by the fifth division, but not close enough — Evacuation 
by the French — Suicide of the Colonel of the 4th — Sabugal — We cross the Coa 
— The comet — Much ado about nothing— Tom Crawley's fears — March through 
Castello Branco — Portalegre, &c, to Campo Mayor — Tom Crawley poisoned — 
Blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo — Atalaya — Hunting excursion with the Staff — 
Our third battalion joins us— Colonel Barnard — Tommy Searchfield— Middy 
ashore — Deficiency of rations — A new arrival — His adventure — Spanish spite 
— The pigs — Rodrigo relieved by the French — Our division — We rejoin the 
army— Battle of El Bodon — We return to Guinaldo — Again invest Rodrigo — 
January, 1812— Fort Piquerine stormed — The stripping of the prisoners by the 
Portuguese — Tom Crawley again — Cure for a skulk . . 86 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Cold reception — Preparation to storm Rodrigo — I join the " Forlorn- Hope" — 
The breaches — General Crauford killed — Uniacke mortally wounded — Major 
Napier wounded — Taking of the town — A rough customer — Wilkie again — 
Death of Wilkie— A gift— The left breach after the battle— Wilkie's grave- 
Horrors of a storm— This is my niece, Sir— The right breach— Captain Uniacke 
— The Light Division leave Rodrigo in disguise — Who the devil are those 
fellows?— We enter El Bodon . . . . .94 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Burial of General Crauford— Anecdote of Ladrone ! Ladrone !— Corporal Miles — 
Burial of Uniacke — A French seat of honour in jeopardy — A wolf! a wolf! — 
Deserters shot — Scene of execution — March to Castello de Vide across 
the Tagus— Execution of Corporal Arnal for desertion — Badajoz — A man 
dreaming of his head being off with his head on j singular fulfilment — Tom 
Crawley's dislike to conchology — His alarms— The Duke of Wellington saluted 
by the enemy— Remarkable feature of the case— A French curative or an ill- 
wind, &c. ....... 102 

CHAPTER XV. 

Storming of Badajoz— I join the Forlorn-Hope again— Presentiments of Major 
O'Hare and Captain Jones — Their deaths — The stormers — The Ladder-men — 
I am wounded — The French prisoner— O'Brien — Sacking of the town — Scene 
of horror — Reflections— The Duke of Wellington and his men — Johnny Castles 
introduced with a rope round his neck — The drummer-boy— A firelock goes 
off, and so does a Corporal — I return to the camp — Casualties at Badajoz — 
The French prisoner and a new acquaintance — His account of the evacuation 
of Almeida — His opinion of the British soldiers . . .114 

CHAPTER XVI. 

I recover from my wounds and rejoin my regiment at Ituera — " Nine holes" — 
March for Salamanca— Sergeant Battersby— The grenadier and the murder of 
his wife, &c, &c— Marmont out-manoeuvred— Assault of Fort St. Vincent- 
Retreat of the enemy— We arrive at Rueda— The wine-vaults— My descent 
into one— Fright, &c— Manoeuvring of the two armies— Skirmishing— A gal- 
lant Frenchman— Pratt and his prisoner . . . .126 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Battle of Salamanca— My wounds break out afresh— I go into the Hospital at 
Salamanca— The Germans and their prisoners— A recognition— Michael Con- 
nelly—His death and burial— Josh. Hetherington again— A new acquaintance 
—His accounts of the Guerillas, &c— A keepsake for a sweetheart— The 
Guerilla— The army retrace their steps to Salamanca— Proceed to Rodrigo— 
Heavy wet— Spanish payment j acknowledgment— A dry coat— Lord Charles 
Spencer and his acorns— We continue our march— The babes in the wood- 
Hard skirmishing with the enemy's advanced-guard— A woman in distress- 
Pepper— Hunger, cold, and fatigue— Finish of the Burgos retreat . 133 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Head-quarters at Grenalda— Don Julian Sanchez, the celebrated Guerilla Chief 
—Weakness of our numbers— Incorporation of Spaniards into our regiments— 
A thief— Punishment of, and opinion of the men— General orders for a col- 
lection among the men and officers to relieve Russian losses— A ball, in which 



CONTENTS. Xlll 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Intention of the Spanish Government respecting our winter quarters— March to 
Vittoria— Enemy oblige us to go round — The rear of the Legion engaged — 
Baggage divided from it— Commencement of the plunder at Bilboa — Arrival at 
Castro — Enemy supposed to be in the vicinity — We remain at Castro — March 
the next day — Mountainous route— An accident— The pass of Las Goras— March 
to Bonia— My company placed in the advance— Orders to prepare for cavalry 
— Doubts and fears — A narrow escape— Arrival at Breviesca — Breviesca — Head 
Quarters — My old Patrone — Hints to revolutionists — System of regular drill 
begun — Riflemen drilled collectively— I practice my company in sham fighting 
— Provosts and hardship— Lay in a winter stock of sickness — Legion paid up 
to November, 1835 — Last payment— March of death — We march for Vittoria — 
Pass of Pancorbo— The dead Patrone— Approach to Vittoria— My old recol- 
lections — The 45th — Halt about three miles from the city — Spanish troops 
come out to meet us — Triumphant entry into Vittoria — The veteran Co- 
lonel . . . . . . .222 



CHAPTER XXVITI. 



Vittoria as it then was — A bad wind that blows nobody any good — Rifles rather 
comfortable at first — Severe weather — Morning scenes and cries in Vittoria — 
The flogging system — Men not starved— A comparison of facts — Hospitals get 
crammed with sick — Singular economy — The old Colonel's two sons — The Cha- 
pelgorris decimated by order ot Espartero — The Rifles march to Matuca — 
The whole Legion assemble at Matuca — Cordova engaged — A Carlist village — 
A confession — A night retreat — Colonel's anxiety — Arlaban — Change of looks 
both in the men and the inhabitants — March to Trevina — Sharp winter of 
1835 . . . . . . .232 






CHAPTER XXIX. 



Return to Vittoria — The mortality and state of the hospitals — Deaths among the 
medical officers — Scenes in the wards — Legion supposed to be poisoned — Don 
Jose* Elgoez — His first ordeal — A discovery — Execution of the two bakers — 
Description of the " Garotta" — Legion march and counter-marches — Mode of 
warfare adopted by General Evans— Frequent desertion. . . 238 



CHAPTER XXX. 



Sudden and unjust dismissal of the officers— Copies from General Orders- 
Spanish compliments to the French and British Legions — Cordova between 
two fires — Some French officers resign — Difference betwixt the British and 
French Legion — Parting moments between a French Colonel and his men — 
Legion receive orders to proceed to San Sebastian — The sick left behind to 
guard the sick — March through the country to Santander — Arrival at the 
Convent of Carbon — New clothing — Recruits, &c. — My opinion of the 
Legion ....... 244 



XIV CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

Embark for San Sebastian— A thirty-two-pounder, and no mistake— A bloody 
force— Brains where they were wanted, unfortunately— A prize— Arrival at San 
Sebastian— Anticipated attack— Colonel de Rottenberg taken ill— Major For- 
tescue— Opinions— His maiden speech— Two companies broke up the others of 
the regiment— 5th of May— Attack on the lines of San Sebastian— A hullabaloo 
—6th Scotch taken for enemies— Helter-skelter— I receive a severe wound— Am 
carried into San Sebastian — My letter to my wife . . 250 ! 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

The loss of my company in the late action— Apprehensions about my leg— Meda 
and pewter— A candidate for Knighthood— Captain Plunkett— His death, &c. 
— A Rifleman assassinated — Fire-eaters— Sketch of San Sebastian — Lord John 
Hay's battery — Ramble towards Passages— Something serious — Awkward 
squads— Singular decline of Spanish Bigotry — A Sectarian alarmed . 256 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Disorganised state of the Legion— Three months' pay— A holiday— The 6th and 
8th Scotch lay down their arms — Reasons — My wishes to retire from the Legion 
I give up the command of the company — A reflection — I embark for Santander 
— Report myself to Colonel Arbuthnot — My new command — The convent of 
Carbon — Short description — Inhabitants of — First sample — A speculation 
— A Quarter-master's conscience — I place him under arrest — A horse ! A 
horse! . . . . . . .26a 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

An orderly dragoon puts us all in confusion — A stir — Retreat upon Santander- 
The dangers of forgetfulness — Cure for a fever — We return to our old quarters 
— Captain Shields and Major Clark's visit— An appeal — A new mode of raising 
" Volunteers" — Glory or death by famine— One hundred and twenty men are 
starved into the service again — Scene in Santander — British soldiers and sub- 
jects — More assassinations — H cold-blooded Spaniard — A peace-loving Com- 
mandant—Captain Oakley and his " cats"— Continued horrors of the convent 
— Assassination — A relief from purgatory— A conclusion . . 2~~ 



ADVENTURES 

OF 

A SOLDIER. 

CHAPTER I. 

To give a young gentleman right education, 
The army's the only good school in the nation. 

SWIFT. 

Introduction of myself to the reader— To the service— Who would not be a 
Soldier ?— A recruit— Wilkie— Cupid's Row-dow— The service endangered by 
another— Arrival at Liverpool— I am made prisoner, but not by the French- 
Recaptured by our sergeant— Lichfield round-house— St. Paul's— I join my 
regiment, and the regiment joins us— Great numbers of rank and file burnt 
alive. 

It has ever been the fashion in story telling to begin, I 
believe, with the birth of the hero, and as I do not forget, 
for a moment, that I am my own, I can only modestly say 
with young Norval I am, 

of parentage obscure 

Who nought can boast, but my desire to be 
A soldier. 

I was born at the town of Mount Mellick, Queen's 
County, Ireland, on the 26th October, 1/88. When I 
was seven years old my father removed to Dublin, where 
he had been appointed to the situation of tide waiter. As 
soon as I became a good sized youth, my father bound me 
apprentice to a cabinet-maker, in King William Street, in 
the aforesaid city; but urged by a roving and restless 
spirit, I soon grew tired of my occupation, which I left 
on morning early " without beat of drum." 

B 



Z ADVENTURES OF 

I next went to live with an uncle, a shoemaker, who 
employed several men to work in his business. Among 
these was an old soldier, who had lost a leg, fighting under 
Sir Ralph xibercrombie, in Egypt. From this old blade, I 
think it was, I first acquired that martial ardour that so 
frequently infects young men in time of war. There was, 
indeed, no resisting the old pensioner's description of glory. 
I became red hot for a soldier's life, and although rejected 
as too young for the regulars, I " listed," as it is tech- 
nically called, in the Dublin Militia on the 1 7th of June, 
1806. 

At the latter end of the following year, our regiment 
was stationed at Londonderry, in the north of Ireland, 
where I volunteered into the 95th, since made the " Rifle 
Brigade." It was rather singular, but I remember I was the 
only volunteer from the regiment who joined the rifles. 

After receiving my bounty of the eighteen guineas (£4 of 
which were deducted for my kit, which I was to have on 
joining), the sum allowed at that time to those who volun- 
teered from the militia, I took the mail coach for Dublin, 
where I found a recruiting party of my new regiment, 
consisting of one sergeant, a corporal and six privates. I 
must say I felt highly delighted with the smart appear- 
ance of the men, as well as with their green uniform. The 
sergeant proposed that I should remain in Dublin, being as 
it were, almost a native of that city, from which circum- 
stance he thought I might materially assist in raising 
recruits. 

Recruiting, on the pay of a private soldier, is anything 
but pleasant, and particularly if he be confined to the mere 
shilling a-day, doled out to him once a-week, for he not 
unfrequently spends it all the first night he receives it. I 
myself had woefully experienced this, having been frequently 
for days without food, through my irregularities and my 
unwillingness to acquaint my friends that I was so near 
them. 

I was crawling about one clay in this manner, heartily 
tired of my first sample of military life, garbed in an old 
green jacket of the sergeant's, when I was accosted by a 
smart young fellow. After eyeing me rather shrewdly from 



A OLDIER. 3 

head to foot for several seconds, " I say, green boy/ 5 said 

he, "do you belong to the Croppies? D me, but I 

like your dress. What bounty do you give ?" 

"Eighteen guineas/' replied I. 

"Come then/' said he, "tip us a shilling. I'm your 
man." Unfortunately for me, I had not a farthing, for I 
had eaten nothing for that and the whole of the previous 
day. However, knowing that we received two pounds for 
every recruit, I hurried into a public-house near at hand, 
and requested of the landlord to lend me a shilling, telling 
him the use for which I wanted it. This he very kindly 
did, and I handed it over to the recruit, who, chucking it 
instantly on the counter, called for the worth of it in 
whiskey. While we remained drinking, the sergeant, 
whom I had sent for, arrived, and supplying us with money, 
the recruit passed the doctor and was sworn in for our corps. 

His name was Wilkie, he was an Englishman ; his father 
having been sent for from Manchester to superintend a glass 
manufactory in Dublin, accounted for his being here. He 
was a fine young fellow of about five feet eight inches in 
height, and possessed all the genuine elements of a soldier, 
that is, was quarrelsome, generous and brave, of which 
qualities he gave us a specimen the evening he enlisted, by 
quilting a pair of coal-heavers. After a few days, he 
introduced me to his family, consisting of his parents and 
a sister, a remarkably pretty girl of about seventeen. Had 
war not claimed me with her iron grasp as her proselyte, I, 
no doubt, should have interwoven my destinies with the 
silken web of Cupid, who, very naturally, when my youth 
and early passions are considered, for I was but nineteen, 
lapped me very seriously on the shoulder. 

I, however, went on recruiting, and the two pounds I 
received for enlisting Wilkie, I handed oyer to my landlady 
in advance for future food, which my last misfortune had 
taught me to value. This precaution, as is generally the 
case, was now no longer necessary, for in a short time after, 
we enlisted so many recruits, that money became very 
plentiful, and I was enabled to get coloured clothes. While 
we remained in Dublin, I became a constant visitor at the 
house of Wilkie' s father, and the young lady I have 

b 2 



4 ADVENTURES OF 

alluded to, not disapproving of my advances, a serious 
attachment followed. But my stay threatened to be 
speedily terminated, as the sergeant and his party received 
orders to join his regiment immediately, then at Col- 
chester, 

Mars and Cupid beat to arms, 

and placed me in the predicament of the donkey betwixt 
the hay stacks. I became bewildered as to which to take, 
both being, as it were, necessary to the calls of my nature. 

At last, the time for parting arrived, which took place 
after a little private snivelling and simpering, and the usual 
vows of eternal fidelity, passion and remembrance — which 
last I have kept to this day. She and her mother accom- 
panied Wilkie and myself towards the Pigeon House, 
Hingsend, and in something more than twenty -four hours, 
we found ourselves cheek by jowl with the quays of Liver- 
pool. It was past midnight when we cast anchor. We were 
ordered to remain on board ; but Wilkie' s and my own 
anxiety to see the place took advantage of a loop hole in 
the waterman's pocket, and we got ashore in our coloured 
clothes ; from the lateness of the hour, however, we were 
obliged to take lodgings in a cellar. We had not been long 
settled and asleep below stairs, before I was awoke by the 
bright glare of a bull's eye lanthorn staring me fall in the 
face, and some five or six rough sailors all armed to the 
teeth, standing before us. 

The first thing they did was to feel our hands, which, 
finding to be rather soft, one remarked to the other, that 
we had never been sailors, though nevertheless they took 
us as lawful prey. Wilkie, at first, wanted to fight with 
them, but was persuaded by half a dozen bull dogs, and 
some cutlasses to walk quietly to the tender, in which we 
most probably should have taken a voyage, but, for one 
thing, we had been sea-sick and were sick of the sea, and on 
being examined by the officer on board the next morning, 
we gladly sent for our sergeant, who, claiming us, accord- 
ingly, we were liberated. 

Our party continued their march, and Wilkie, whom for 
more reasons than one I was growing exceedingly attached 



A SOLDIER. O 

to, was always my companion and many a scrape he got me 
into. He was continually in hot water ; on several occa- 
sions and particularly at Lichfield where we were caged, 
for kicking up disturbances amongst some Irish recruits in 
which, however, I supported my friend, we were detained 
for want of means to pay for the damage done to a public- 
house, the scene of riot. Sergeant Crooks (for that was 
our sergeant's name) had not unfortunately the means to 
satisfy this demand, having nothing but the men's bare 
allowance to carry us to London. Meanwhile, we remained 
in the cage, which was in a very conspicuous part of the 
market-place. 

The fact of an Irishman being there, seemed to have 
aroused all the little brats and blackguards of the neigh- 
bourhood, (my countrymen were not so plentifully scat- 
tered then as they are now), and every minute of the 
day we were annoyed by, " I say Paddy, Hilloa Paddy, 
which way does the bull run?" Taking both of us for 
Irish, the young devils kept twirling their fingers on their 
noses, even through the bars of the cage. The poor 
sergeant, who was a mild good fellow, arranged matters, 
after all, with the magistrates ; the money was to be sent 
to the injured parties as soon as we joined the regiment, 
and deducted from our pay — which was done accordingly. 

Wilkie, however, continued his pranks, and once while 
in London when on a visit to St. Paul's Cathedral, stopped 
the pendulum of the clock, and set the bells ringing ; for 
this we were again imprisoned, but escaped this time, by 
paying a fine of five shillings for being drunk, after which 
nothing occurred till we arrived at Colchester. Here 
I joined the 1st battalion, then under the command 
of Colonel Beckwith, afterwards known as General Sir 
Sidney Beckwith, and was attached to Captain Glass's 
company. 

Shortly after my arrival, the regiment was ordered to 
Spain, the campaign having then commenced. But not 
being perfect in my exercises, I was left behind as depot, 
until time and practice had made me a greater proficient in 
Light Infantry duty. Although this was a necessary con- 
sequence to a mere recruit, at that time, I felt not a little 



ADVENTURES OF 

mortification at being prevented sharing in the glory* 
which I believed the regiment about to reap. 

As it was, however, I had no great reason to complain. 

1 became an adept in my drill, and a tolerable shot along 
with some other recruits, before the regiment returned. 
This took place in the month of January, 1809, at Hythe, 
where we were at that time stationed, the depot having 
moved from Colchester. 

The Rifle regiment, it is well known, had distinguished 
itself, and had suffered severely, especially in the retreat to 
Corunna under the gallant Moore. From thence, they 
had embarked for England, where, on their landing, they 
presented a most deplorable sight. The appearance of the 
men was squalid and miserable in the extreme. There was 
scarcely a man amongst them, who had not lost some of 
his appointments, and many, owing to the horrors of that 
celebrated retreat, were even without rifles. Their clothing, 
too, was in tatters, and in such an absolute state of filth as 
to swarm with vermin. New clothing was immediately 
served out and the old ordered to be burnt, which order 
was put into execution at the back of our barracks amid the 
jests of the men, who congratulated each other on thus get- 
ting effectually rid of those myriads of enemies, that had 
proved such a source of personal discomfort to them abroad. 



CHAPTER II. 

I join Captain O'Hare's company — He falls in a passion — The "fair" and 
" unfair" appointment — Disappointment — Things of a private nature — Tom 
Crawley — An example — The Hero — How to catch " flats" in " squads" — 
New way to tap a barrel — A Rifleman's plan for sweeping chimneys and tap- 
rooms — Pipe-clay and parade — The regiment embark for Portugal. 

Shortly after the return of the regiment, I was drafted 
into the company commanded by Captain Peter O'Hare ; a 
man whose eccentric habits were equalled only by his 
extremely ugly countenance. Peter, for that was the cog- 
nomen by which he was generally known to the men, was 
as brave as a lion ; and had risen, it was said, to his present 
commission from the ranks. 



A SOLDIER. / 

While here, he got in tow with a young lady of Hythe, 
whom he was in the hahit frequently of escorting about 
the barracks and the neighbouring heights. This the men 
as often took advantage of, and throwing themselves in his 
way, when arm-in-arm with the lady, would ask any favour 
they might have required of him. This Peter, who we 
presumed had an eye to the opinion and future requital of, 
perhaps, his own wishes upon the fair one herself, would 
always readily grant ; until, at last, through their impor- 
tunities he became awake to the scheme, and swore he 
would flog the first man who made another attempt of the 
kind, when the lady was present. 

A rather humorous adventure, which came to my 
knowledge through his servant, occurred while here. One 
day at Hythe with a dinner party, at which the young 
lady was present, he chanced, unintentionally, to give 
offence to some Militia officer, one of the party ; the con- 
sequence was, that the next morning he received, what he 
perhaps supposed a billet-doux, but which, to his surprise, 
turned out to be a challenge. He was sitting shaving 
himself when the note was delivered to him by his servant, 
and of course dropped the razor to peruse it. 

ce John," said he, calling his man back ; " who brought 
this ? Faith, it's a challenge." 

" A gentleman !" replied John, " now waiting at the 
door." 

" Oh, then," says Peter, " tell the gentleman that I am 
going to Spain, and that if he follows me, he'll not find 
me behind a hedge ; and with my compliments, tell him 
also to take back this bit of paper to the humbug who 
sent it ; for by Jove !" he continued, closing the door, 
i( captain's commissions are not to be got every day !" 

Our commanding officer, who was considered as one of 
the most humane of the whole army, was an excellent 
man, and well deserving of his fame ; he seldom had re- 
course to the " cats," thinking, perhaps, with a great deal 
of truth, that it was necessary only in extreme cases. The 
plan of punishment, generally adopted by him, was to put 
the offender on extra drill with alLhis accoutrements on. 
When, however, the men became incorrigible, he would 



8 ADVENTURES OF 

order a six pound shot to be affixed to the leg, with a long 
chain attached to it, and so oblige them to trail it about 
with them. 

We had in our regiment, at this time, a man of the 
name of Tom Crawley, who was always getting into 
scrapes, and who was one of those singular characters 
with which every regiment abounds. To enormous 
strength, and great meekness of temper, he added an 
infinity of dry humour, which I shall better illustrate by 
introducing him to the reader at once, as bearing no little 
part in my career — in which he first became known to me 
as one of the " incorrigibles." Tom, however, made light 
of every punishment, even of the " six-pounder," which 
he would generally chuck under his arm as if it were a 
mere toy. To obviate this, another move was made by 
our Colonel, which was the obliging him to wear a kind of 
long smock-frock, with a green cross painted on the back 
and front of it. The barrack in which we were, being 
only temporary, presented no outward wall to prevent our 
free intercourse with the town where Tom was a general 
favourite. Tom used, therefore, at night, while under dis- 
grace, to take advantage of the dusk, and steal by the 
sentries into the town. Here, of course, his strange dress 
elicited innumerable queries. 

"Arrah and sure!" Tom would reply with a knowing 
side leer of the eye, u sure and is it not the new regulation 
of the Duke of York, and musn't all the likes of me, 
that are Catholics in our regiment, wear the cross on their 
dress !" 

The first parade we had after our men had received 
their new equipments, was imprinted upon my memory 
from a circumstance attending it, that was well calculated 
to make an impression upon the mind of a youthful 
soldier, such as I then was ; and to inspire that esprit de 
corps in a regiment, which is absolutely essential to even 
disciplined valour. I had previously, more than once, 
heard a man of the name of Tom Plunket eulogised by 
the men for his courage. He was a smart, well-made 
fellow, about the middle height, in the prime of manhood ; 
with a clear grey eye, and handsome countenance ; and was 



A SOLDIER. 9 

a general favourite with both officers and men, besides being 
the best shot in the regiment. 

On the occasion I have above alluded to, we were formed 
into hollow square, and ordered to face inwards ; as we 
knew it was not a punishment parade, we naturally ex- 
pected some address from the commanding officer, and 
wondering in our own minds what was coming, when 
Colonel Beckwith broke the silence by calling out : 

" Private Thomas Plunket, step into the square. 5 ' All 
eyes, it is needless to say, were fixed upon Plunket, as he 
halted with his rifle shouldered, in the finest position of 
military attention, within a few paces of his officer. 

,( Here, men," exclaimed the commanding officer, point- 
ing to Plunket, " here stands a pattern for the battalion !" 
Then addressing Tom, he added, " I have ordered a medal 
for you, in approval of your late gallant conduct at Co- 
runna. Present yourself, Sir, to the master tailor and get 
on a corporal's stripes, and I will see you do not want 
higher promotion, as you continue to deserve it. I love to 
reward conduct such as yours has hitherto been I" 

Making his salute, Tom retired, when we formed into 
column and marched back to our barracks, duly fired with 
a love of emulation to deserve the praise that had been 
bestowed on the fortunate Plunket. I have since often 
thought of the judicious conduct pursued by our Colonel 
in the foregoing instance, as I am convinced that it was 
attended with the happiest effects among many of the 
men, and, perhaps, indeed, induced much of that spirit of 
personal gallantry and daring for which our corps after- 
wards became celebrated. 

Our regiment was shortly afterwards raised to one 
thousand strong, chiefly through volunteering from the 
Militia, our common medium of supply at the time at which 
I write, and it is justly due to the Militia regiments, to say, 
that in the knowledge and exercise of their military duties, 
during the war, they were very little inferior to the troops 
of the line. The men who joined our battalion, were in 
general a fine set of young fellows, and chiefly the elite of 
the light companies of the different provincial corps. 

For his qualifications, as before stated, Tom Plunket, 



10 ADVENTURES OF 

with a few others, was selected to recruit from the Lincoln 
Militia, which lay at Hythe, while we remained in tempo- 
rary barracks on the heights. 

While the volunteering went on, the Militia colonels 
were ordered to give their men full liberty to do as they 
liked, and the better to obtain the object in view, barrels of 
beer with the heads knocked in, were, by order of govern- 
ment, placed in the different streets of the town, for those 
to partake of who chose. The butts, consequently, were 
dipped into by every kind of person with utensils of every 
description. This we must not wonder at, when we consider 
the double thirst those times gave rise to, " Barclay" as 
well as " Glory." 

Tom's manner of attack was rather singular, but joined 
to the profusion of government, very efficacious. The 
Rifles, from the dark colour of their uniforms, and the 
total absence of all ornament, had gained the nick-name of 
(( Sweeps," an appellation, which, nevertheless, held out a 
kind of temptation to the " wide awake" of the squads. 
The pipe clay and button stick were always hateful to the 
eyes of all soldiers ; but to none so much as to the Riflemen, 
who looked upon them as fitted only for men less useful 
than themselves. This, Tom took advantage of on all occa- 
sions. He was the soul of every company he mixed in, 
and amongst his other accomplishments, numbered that of 
dancing excellently. 

One day, the better to attract the " awkwards," he com- 
menced a shuffle on the head of one of the aforesaid barrels 
of beer, to the infinite amusement of a very large crowd ; 
in the course of a few steps, however, the head suddenly 
gave way, and soused Tom up to his neck in the liquid. 
The whole crowd laughed uproariously. But Tom, whose 
head only was to be seen, stared very gravely round the 
edge of the cask, then suddenly recovering himself, and 
bolting out of the butt, he made his way instantly to the 
public-house chimney, which, having ascended some dis- 
tance and descended, he as quickly re-appeared amongst 
the crowd. 

"There now," said he, giving himself a Newfoundland 
shake, that opened a wide and instantaneous circle of militia 



A SOLDIER. 11 

men, "there now/' be exclaimed, "d — n your pipe clay, 
now I'm ready for the grand parade !" 

I must now notice an order that arrived for our imme- 
diate embarkation for Portugal, to join the army under Sir 
Arthur Wellesley. We went on board the transports lying 
for us at Dover in March, 1809, in the best of spirits ; 
such, in fact, as sportsmen feel in anticipation of the plea- 
sures of the chase. 

Shipboard, though perhaps not quite so forlorn as Doctor 
Johnson has portrayed it, soon becomes sufficiently irksome 
and unpleasant to those not accustomed to it, especially 
when three or four hundred men are crowded into a small 
vessel. Our officers, who were mostly a jolly set of fellows, 
had recourse to various expedients to while away the time 
on our voyage. Among these was one extremely popular, 
and that was getting Plunket to dance a hornpipe to the 
music of our band upon the quarter-deck. Tom danced it 
famously ; and the beating of his feet, in the " double 
shuffle" used to draw the loudest plaudits from our men 
and the crew of the vessel. 

As I have already been induced to mention Plunket, 
while we are now on our voyage to Portugal, I will intro- 
duce a sketch of his life, which well known as it is to 
many individuals formerly in the regiment, possibly may 
not form an unamusing episode in my own. 



CHAPTER III. 

When I'm in want I'll thankfully receive 
Because I'm poor; but not because I'm brave. 

TOM PLUNKET TO THE LIFE. 

Tom Plunket's Military Career. 

Plunket' s first career in arms was in South Ame- 
rica with General Whitelocke, where he acquired the 
reputation, in his company, of a good soldier. It was at 
the retreat of Corunna, some years afterwards, that an 
opportunity particularly presented itself of getting distin- 
guished, and which Tom took in the nick of time. The 
rear-guard of the British, partly composed of the Light 



12 ADVENTURES OF 

Brigade, notwithstanding the gallantry of some of our 
cavalry, were exceedingly pressed by the French horse, 
who were vastly superior to us in that arm. In the 
neighbourhood of Astorga, in particular, they made 
several determined charges. In these onsets, a French 
general, named Colbert, was remarkably active, as well as 
conspicuous, from riding a grey horse, and, though fre- 
quently aimed at by our men, seemed to bear a charmed 
life, as he invariably escaped. In one of the French 
charges, headed by this officer, our General, Sir Edward 
Paget, rode up to the rifles, and offered any man his 
purse who would shoot this daring Frenchman, whom he 
pointed out. Plunket immediately started from his com- 
pany, and running about a hundred yards nearer to the 
enemy, he threw himself on his back on the road, which 
was covered with snow, placing his foot in the sling of his 
rifle, and taking a deliberate aim, shot General Colbert. 
His Trumpet-Major riding up to him, shared the same 
fate, from Tom's unerring rifle. Our men, who had been 
anxiously watching Tom, immediately cheered him ; and 
he had just time, by running in upon the rear-most sec- 
tions, to escape some dozen troopers who made chase 
after him. Oar General immediately gave Tom the purse 
he had promised, with encomiums upon his gallantry, and 
promised to recommend him to his Colonel, which he did 
in high terms to Colonel Beckwith. A few days after- 
wards, when the French attacked Sir John Moore's posi- 
tion at Corunna, Plunket again became noted for his cool 
bravery and daring, especially in making some admirable 
shots, by which they lost many officers. 

But the truth must be told. Like all heroes, Tom had 
his faults. Among these, in particular, was one which, in 
its destructive consequences, was calculated to counterba- 
lance in a soldier a thousand virtues. In other words, 
Tom was a thirsty soul, and exceedingly fond of a " drop." 
This was his unfortunate failing through life, and but for 
which he must have got on in the service. 

One deplorable instance of insubordination, arising from 
this vice, I well remember, which took place at Campo 
Mayor, after the battle of Talavera. Tom had been pro- 



A SOLDIER. 13 

moted to the rank of sergeant, and was in the Hon. Captain 
Stewart's company. One morning, when the company was 
on private parade, Tom appeared quite tipsy, and, in 
giving the words of command for inspection, previous to 
the arrival of the officers, he set the men laughing. The 
pay-sergeant, his superior in rank, immediately ordered 
him to desist. Tom refused, and, while an altercation was 
going on, Captain Stewart came up, who, perceiving the 
state he was in, put him under arrest, and ordered him to 
be confined to his quarters. 

Here he was no sooner left alone than, conceiving that a 
great indignity had been placed upon him, thoughts of ven- 
geance immediately suggested themselves to his mind. 
Under the influence of intoxication that man, who, when 
sober, was noted for his good humour and humanity, now 
conceived the diabolical intention of shooting his Captain. 
He immediately barricaded the door of the room, and then 
set about loading some ten or twelve rifles, belonging to 
men, then on fatigue duty. Taking up one of these, and 
cocking it, he placed himself at an open window for the 
avowed purpose, as he stated to several of the men, of 
shooting Captain Stewart as he passed. 

Fortunately the Captain got notice of the danger of going 
near the house, while several of the men, by coaxing and 
force, alternately, endeavoured without effect to get into 
the room Tom had barred. At length the unfortunate 
Plunket was induced to relent on the appearance of a Lieu- 
tenant of the company named Johnson, who was a great 
favourite with the men, among whom he was known by a 
very familiar nick-name. The door was opened and Tom 
made prisoner. 

Although Tom was a general favourite, and his conduct 
had resulted from the madness of intoxication, his insu- 
bordination was too glaring to stand a chance of being 
passed over. He was brought to a regimental court-mar- 
tial, found guilty, and sentenced to be reduced to the ranks, 
and to receive three hundred lashes. Poor Plunket, when 
he had recovered his reason, after the commission of his 
crime, had experienced and expressed the most imfeigned 
contrition, so that when his sentence became known, there 



14 ADVENTURES OF 

was a general sorrow felt for him throughout the regiment, 
particularly on account of the corporal punishment. In 
this feeling, I believe, the officers participated almost as 
much as the men. 

At length the time arrived when the bravest soldier of 
our battalion was to suffer the penalty of his crime in the 
presence of those very men before whom he had been held 
up as a pattern but some few short months before. The 
square was formed for punishment : there was a tree in the 
centre to which the culprit was to be tied, and close to 
which he stood with folded arms and downcast eyes, in 
front of his guard. The surgeon stood by, while the buglers 
were busily engaged untangling the strings of the cats. 

There was a solemn stillness on that parade that was 
remarkable ; a pensiveness on the features of both officers 
and men, deeper than usual, as though the honour of the 
profession was to suffer in the person of the prisoner. 
Flogging is at all times a disgusting subject of contempla- 
tion : in the present instance, it seemed doubly so, now 
that a gallant, and until within a few days, an honoured and 
respected man was to suffer. 

The sentence of the court-martial was read by the adju- 
tant in a loud voice. Poor Tom, who had the commisera- 
tion of the whole regiment, looked deadly pale. That 
countenance which the brunt of the fiercest battle had been 
unable to turn from its ruddy hue — that countenance 
which the fear of death could not change — was now blanched 
in dread of a worse fate. 

" Buglers, do your duty/' exclaimed Colonel Beckwith, 
in a voice husky with emotion, I thought, as the men 
seemed to hesitate in their business of stripping and bind- 
ing the prisoner to the tree. This, however, was soon 
accomplished, Tom only once attempting to catch the eye 
of his colonel with an imploring glance, while he exclaimed 
in broken accents — 

" Colonel, you won't, will you ? You won't — you cannot 
mean to flog me!" 

The appeal, although it went to the heart of every one 
present, was vain. Colonel Beckwith betrayed much 
uneasiness ; I beheld him give a slight start at the com- 



A SOLDIER. 17 

Tom was dismissed with a present from Sir Sydney. ^The 
following day Tom was made a corporal, and shortly after- 
wards, through the medium, I believe, of Sir Sydney, went 
up and passed the pension board at Kilmainham, which 
granted him a shilling a- day. 

But I had forgotten to mention, in its place, an event 
common in man's life — I mean his marriage. Shortly after 
the battle of Waterloo, Tom had wedded a lady remarkable 
for being deficient in one essential to beauty — she actually 
had no face, or, at all events, was so defaced, it amounted 
to the same thing. This slight flaw in the beauty of Tom's 
wife, who 

Had gallantly follow' d the camp through the war, 

arose from the bursting of an ammunition-waggon at Quatre 
Bras, near to which the lady stood, and by which her 
countenance was rendered a blue, shapeless, noseless mass. 
This event was duly commemorated by the government, 
who allowed the heroine a shilling a-day pension, in allu- 
sion to which Tom used facetiously to say — "It was an 
ill blowing up of powder that blew nobody good." 

The story of Tom Plunket, already narrated at greater 
length than I had intended, draws fast to a close. Imbued 
with roving inclinations, partly owing to his nature, and 
more perhaps to his profession, for nothing more unsettles 
a man than the ever-changing chequered course of a 
soldier's life, he at one time determined to become a settler 
in Canada, and, accordingly, accepted the oifer held out by 
government to all pensioners, of allowing them so much 
land, and giving them four years' pay for their pensions. 
Plunket, ever eager for the handling of cash, got two years' 
pay down here, and started off with some two or three 
hundred others to try their fortune. This proved to be a 
very miserable one : Tom was not a man to rusticate on the 
other side of the Atlantic amid privations, and with the 
recollection of old England fresh in his mind. 

Before a year had elapsed, he returned to England with 
his wife, and, by way of apology to his friends, stated 
his grant of land was so wild and swampy that it made him 
quite melancholy, looking at it in a morning out of the 

c 



18 ADVENTURES OF 

chinks of a wretched log hut he had managed to erect upon 
his estate. He returned home swearing loudly against 
forest-land, a swampy soil, and a had climate, having, of 
course, duly forfeited his own pension for ever. 

The last time I saw Tom Plunket was in Burton Crescent, 
most picturesquely habited, and selling matches. I did 
not disdain to speak to an old comrade who had been less 
fortunate in "life's march" than myself. I asked him 
how he got on, when with one of his usual cheerful smiles 
he informed me, that the match-selling business kept him 
on his legs. 

"I should have thought, Tom, you had seen enough 
of firing,' 9 I remarked, " without endeavouring to live by 
it now." 

" A man must do something these hard times for bread/' 
replied Tom, as he passed his hand thoughtfully across the 
furrow made by the bullet at Waterloo. 

Poor Tom ! I felt for him. I was sorry to see him 
neglected; others, whose service were many days march 
behind his, were taken better care of. But Tom's incor- 
rigible failing was his own stumbling-block. 

I did not, however, leave him my mere reflection, but 
giving him a portion of that coin, he so well knew how 
to get rid of, I wished him success in his new business, 
and went my way, musing on the strange vicissitudes of a 
soldier's life.* 

Alas ! the brave too oft are doom'd to bear, 
The gripes of poverty, the stings of care. 

But after this digressive sketch, it is high time to return 
to my own career in the field that was just now commencing. 

* A few months back, while on duty at the Tower, one of the warders informed 
me a most extraordinary lady was anxious to see me, when, to my astonishment, 
Mrs. Plunket stood before me, and while she held a handkerchief by one hand 
close to that part where her nose formerly stood, with her other hand she 
squeezed mine, and in the most plaintive tone told me of poor Tom's death. 
It appeared that herself and Plunket, who usually tramped through different 
parts of the country, and procured a livelihood selling needles and tapes, while 
passing through a street in Colchester, suddenly staggering a few paces fell 
down and expired. The death of Tom and the sight of Mrs. Plunket, whose 
extraordinary countenance excited disgust as well as pity, spread like wildfire 
through the town, and it came to the ears of several retired officers living in 



A SOLDIER. 19 

Returning to ship-board, from whence I conducted the 
peruser of this veritable narrative, allow me to say, that 
after a tolerably pleasant voyage we anchored off Lisbon. 
From thence, in a few days, we proceeded in open boats 
up the river Tagus, and landed about four miles from 
Santarem, where we encamped for the night. 

On the following morning, we marched into the city of 
Santarem amid the cheers of its inhabitants, who welcomed 
us with loud cries of " Viva os Ingleses valerosos !" Long 
live the brave English ! 

Here we immediately became brigaded with the 43rd and 
52nd regiments of Light Infantry, under the command of 
Major-General Crauford. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Arrival in Portugal — Crauford's forced marches — Teetotalism with a vengeance — 
The effect of the opposite extreme — Spanish mode of keeping a man from 
stealing wine — False reports — Talavera — We arrive the day after the fight — A 
battle scene— Sir Arthur Wellesley — General Cuesta — Dough Boy Hill — The 
fever — I am taken ill— Elvas hospital — How to cure a fever — Convalescence — 
Burial scenes— Our Sextons — March to my regiment— The Germans — Pig- 
skins in danger, our own also — Captain Pakenham — Hanging matters — Two 
dozen of each — Not sham pain — German discipline. 

On the third clay after our arrival at Santarem, we 
commenced a series of forced marches to join the main 
army under Sir Arthur Wellesley, at Talavera, then almost 
hourly expecting an engagement with the French corps 
commanded by Marshal Victor. Our men suffered dread- 
fully on the route, chiefly from excessive fatigue and the 
heat of the weather, it being the melting month of July. 
The brain fever soon commenced, making fearful ravages in 
our ranks, and many men dropped by the road-side and 
died. One day I saw two men of the 52nd, unable to bear 

that city, who happened to read my description of him ; the result was that a 
handsome collection was set on foot, and the amount of twenty pounds was 
collected for the widow. The lady of a colonel also, entirely out of her own 
pocket, paid for the funeral of poor Tom, with a handsome tombstone to per- 
petuate his memory. This she told me with many sobs. Thus ended the 
career of the gallant but unfortunate Plunket. 

c 2 



20 ADVENTURES OF 

their sufferings, actually put a period to their existence by 
shooting themselves.* 

The greatest efforts possible were made by Major- 
General Crauford to arrive in time to join the Commander- 
in-chief, previously to a battle being fought. The excellent 
orders our brigadier issued for maintaining order and disci- 
pline on the line of march on this occasion, though exceed- 
ingly unpopular at first, have since become justly celebrated 
in the service. No man, on any pretext whatever, was 
allowed to fall out of the ranks without a pass from the 
officer of his company, and then only on indispensable 
occasions. 

This pass, however, was not a complete security, 
for on the return of the stragglers to camp, the orderly 
sergeants were compelled to parade them before their 
regimental-surgeons, when, if pronounced as skulkers, they 
were instantly tried by a drum-head court martial, and 
punished accordingly ; thus, frequently, when almost dying 
with thirst, we were obliged to pass springs of the finest 
water by the road-side untasted. But all this apparent 
severity, as we afterwards learnt, was considered as abso- 
lutely essential to the great purpose General Crauford had 
in view — dispatch. If the General found a man fall out 
without a pass, his plan was to take his ramrod and ride off. 

* As the reader may not be aware of the weight each rifleman had to carry 
during this long and harassing march, this too by men considered the lightest 
troops in our service, they are as follows : Knapsack and straps, two shirts, 
two pair of stockings, one pair of shoes, ditto soles and heels, three brushes, 
box of blacking, razor, soap-box and strap, and also at the time an extra pair of 
trowsers, a mess- tin, centre-tin and lid, haversack and canteen, great coat and 
blanket, a powder- flask filled, a ball bag containing thirty loose balls, a small 
wooden mallet used to hammer the ball into the muzzle of our rifles j belt and 
pouch, the latter containing fifty rounds of ammunition, sword-belt and rifle^ 
besides other odds and ends, that at all times are required for a service-soldier. 
Each squad had also to carry four bill-hooks, that weighed six pounds each, so 
that every other day each man had to carry it ; thus equipped, with from seventy 
to eighty pounds weight, this too in the melting month of July. Not content 
with the above, the General gave strict orders for each man to have his canteen 
filled with water before commencing the day's march every morning. Through 
being thus overloaded, four hundred of the battalion died a few months after our 
arrival, without a single shot being fired. But the survivors soon found out the 
cause of this mortality, as I don't think there was a man in the regiment five 
years after, before we left the country, could show a single shirt or a pair of 
shoes in his knapsack. 



A SOLDIER. 21 

It was not ^infrequently you might see him ride into camp 
with a dozen ramrods, when the adjutant of each regiment 
was ordered to find those that had no ramrods, each of 
which received two dozen lashes. 

Fortunately for us, our longest halt took place during 
the heat of the day, and our longest marches were made at 
night, at this time, therefore, it was a usual scene to see a 
number of men who had been flogged, with their knapsacks 
on their heads, and their bodies enveloped in the loose 
great coats — to ease the wounds inflicted by the lash. But 
yet with all this, strange as it may appear, Crauford main- 
tained a popularity among the men, who, on every other 
occasion, always found him to be their best friend. 

A few days before we came to Malpartida de Placentia, 
we were going through a small town, the name of which I 
forget, when in passing the gaol, a man looking through 
one of the high barred windows of the building, vociferated, 
in accents not to be mistaken — 

" Od's blood and 'ounds, boys, are you English V 9 

On several of our men answering in the affirmative, the 
prisoner exclaimed, in a tone that set our men in a roar 
of laughter — 

" Oh ! by Jasus, the Spaniards have poked me into this 
hole for getting a drop of wine, boys ; — get me out, pray/ 5 

When we halted about half a mile on the other side, 
Colonel Beckwith sent, and obtained the man's release. 
He proved to be one of the 23rd Light Dragoons, who 
had been taken prisoner by the French, but had made his 
escape in the dress of a peasant ; when, in passing through 
this place, he had been incarcerated on a charge of taking 
some wine from a man without paying for it. Much merri- 
ment was excited by his appearance, and the droll and 
earnest manner in which he narrated his adventures. 

On the following day, we bivouacked near Malpartida de 
Placentia, when a report reached our corps that a battle 
had been fought at Talavera, and that the English had 
been beaten and dispersed. Although I believe few of us 
gave credit to the story, still it created some uneasiness 
amongst men and officers. Its effect, however, upon our 
brigadier, was to make him hurry forward with, if possible, 



22 ADVENTURES OF 

increased speed. Our bivouac was immediately broken up. 
"We got under arms, and leaving the sick of the brigade 
behind us in the town under charge of a subaltern from 
each regiment, we commenced one of the longest marches, 
with scarcely a halt or pause, on the military records of any 
country. To use the words of our admirable historian of 
the Peninsular War, we <e passed over sixty-two miles, and 
in the hottest season of the year in twenty-six hours." As 
Colonel Napier justly observes, " Had the historian Gibbon 
known of such a march, he would have spared his sneer 
about 'the delicacy of modern soldiers/ " 

As we approached Talavera, we learned for a fact, that a 
battle had been fought from the crowds of disorderly 
Spanish soldiery we continued to meet upon the road ; 
some few of them were wounded. These men were part of 
General Cuesta's army that had been beaten by the French 
on the- 27th, and who chose to give the most disastrous 
account of the English army, which they stated was com- 
pletely destroyed. We could not but remark, that these 
Spaniards, whom we knew to be a disorganised crew, had 
not forgotten to help themselves to plunder in their flighty 
as most of them carried some article or other to which they 
could have little claim, such as hams, cheese and fowls. 
Some, although infantry-men, rode on excellent horses, 
while others drove mules, carrying sacks of flour, &c. 
Never was seen such a thoroughly demoralized wreck 
of an army. 

As we advanced nearer to the scene of action the reports 
became less formidable, until the heights of Talavera burst 
upon our sight, and we hailed, with three loud huzzas, the 
news that the British, in the action of the preceding day 
with the French, had been victorious. 

Our bugles struck up merrily as we crossed the field of 
battle early in the morning, on the 29th of July. The 
scene, however, was most appalling, especially to the young 
soldiers ; we had partaken in no encounter as yet, and here 
had missed the interest which blunted the feelings of the 
men engaged. We "raw ones," indeed, had as yet scarcely 
seen the enemy, and recognised no comrades among the 
fallen. The ice still remained to be broken which the 



A SOLDIER. 23 

experience of one engagement would have done effectually. 
The field of action had occupied an extensive valley, situated 
between two ranges of hills, on which the British and 
French armies were posted. It was now strewn with 
all the wreck of the recent battle. The dead and dying, 
to the amount of some thousands, conquerors and con- 
quered, lay diversely in little heaps, interspersed with dis- 
mounted guns, and shattered ammunition-waggons, while 
broken horse-trappings, and blood-stained chacots, and 
other torn paraphernalia of military pomp and distinc- 
tion, completed the reality of the battle scene. 

The long grass which had taken fire during the action 
was still burning, and added dreadfully to the sufferings of 
the wounded and dying of both armies ; their cries for 
assistance were horrifying, and hundreds might have been 
seen exerting the last remnant of their strength, crawling to 
places of safety. 

In the midst of this, it was that I saw, for the first time, 
our immortal chief Sir Arthur Wellesley. I also then 
beheld that deformed-looking lump of pride, ignorance and 
treachery, General Cuesta. He was the most murderous- 
looking old man I ever saw. 

On our arrival we were immediately ordered upon out- 
post duty : in executing which we had to throw out a line 
of sentinels facing the French position. Another and a 
more painful duty that devolved upon us, was to carry the 
wounded men into the town of Talavera. Many of these 
poor fellows, I remarked, were dreadfully burnt. 

In consequence of the increasing weakness of the Bri- 
tish army at this period, the ranks of which were daily 
thinned through the scantiness and wretched quality of the 
food with which they were, of necessity, supplied, as well 
perhaps as by the accession of strength which the French 
had received, Lord Wellington was induced to retire. 
After retracing, for a few days, the route by which we had 
arrived, our brigade was left by the main army encamped 
upon a rocky eminence partly surrounded by wood, and 
overlooking the river Tagus. It was a wild and beautiful 
scene, with several corn-fields in our immediate neigh- 
bourhood. 



24 ADVENTURES OF 

Our living here became truly savage. Although we 
remained at this place for two or three weeks, I think we 
scarcely received half a dozen rations during that period, 
but existed, as we could, by our own ingenuity. Fortu- 
nately for us, as regards meat, there were some droves of 
pigs that were taken into the woods to feed, and which 
fattened upon the acorns. To these animals, that were 
generally under the charge of some Spaniards, we were 
obliged to have recourse for food. For bread we took the 
corn from the fields, and, having no proper means of win- 
nowing and grinding it, were obliged as a substitute to rub 
out the ears between our hands, and then pound them 
between stones to make into dough, such as it was. From 
this latter wretched practice, we christened the place 
" Dough Boy Hill," a name by which it is well remem- 
bered by the men of our division. 

From the preceding place we marched to Campo Mayor ; 
we remained here three months, during which time a 
dreadful mortality took place. In our regiment, alone, 
the flux and brain fever reigned to so frightful an extent, 
that three hundred men died in hospital. I myself was 
seized with the prevailing fever shortly after our arrival, 
and was sent to the Convent of St. Paul, the general hospi- 
tal at Elvas. 

I could not help remarking the manner of cure adopted 
by our doctors ; it principally consisted in throwing cold 
water from canteens or mess kettles as often as possible 
over the bodies of the patients ; this in many cases was 
effectual, and I think cured me. 

I, however, had a narrow squeak for my life, though I 
fortunately recovered after an illness of nearly six weeks, 
thanks to my good constitution, but none to the brute 
of an orderly, who, during the delirium of the fever, 
beat me once most furiously with a broom stick. On 
leaving the hospital with other convalescents, I was sent to 
the Bomb Proof Barracks, where it frequently became our 
duty to see the dead interred. This was a most horrible 
office, and obliged us to attend at the hospital to receive 
the bodies, which were conveyed away in cart-loads at a 
time to the ground appropriated for their burial. This 



A SOLDIER. 25 

lay outside the town beneath the ramparts,, and was so very 
small for the purpose required, that we were obliged to get 
large oblong and deep holes excavated, in which two stout 
Portuguese were employed to pack the bodies, heads and 
heels together, to save room. For this duty these two 
brutes seemed duly born — for never before did I see two 
such ruffianly looking fellows. 

It was singularly revolting to witness how the pair went 
to work when handing the bodies from the hospital to the 
cart ; each carried a skin of vinegar, with which they first 
soused themselves over the neck and face ; this done, with 
one jerk they jilted a single corpse at a time across their 
shoulders, naked as it was born, and bolted off to the cart, 
into which it was pitched as if it had been a log of wood. 
The women, however, who fell victims to the epidemic 
were generally sewed in a wrapper of calico or some such 
thing, but they partook of the same hole as the opposite 
sex, and otherwise were as little privileged. Many were 
the scores of my poor comrades I thus saw committed to 
their first parent, and many were the coarse jests the 
grave-diggers made over their obsequies. 

While I was confined in hospital, the brigade marched 
and took up their cantonments between Ciudad Rodrigo 
and Almeida. In the beginning of February about three 
hundred convalescents, among whom I was one, were 
marched, under charge of an officer of the German Legion, 
to join their respective regiments. Nothing of any conse- 
quence, in the march of our party, occurred, with the 
exception of a very narrow escape I had of being provosted, 
or in other words flogged. As the anecdote serves to show 
the light in which the Germans regarded this description 
of punishment during the war, I will detail it. 

The men being from different regiments, and under the 
command of a foreigner, some availed themselves of what 
they considered a fair opportunity of pilfering from the 
country people as we pursued our march, and I am sorry 
to say that drunkenness and robbery were not unfrequent. 
The German officer, as is usual under such circumstances, 
experienced great difficulty in keeping the skulkers and 
disorderly from lingering in the rear. In compliment to 



26 



ADVENTURES OF 



my steadiness, he had made me an acting corporal, with 
strict orders to make the rear men of our detachment keep 
up. Just before we arrived at the town of Viseu, then 
occupied by the Foot Guards, and the head-quarters of the 
Commander-in-chief, I came up to some of our party who 
were doing their best to empty a pig-skin of wine they had 
stolen. Being dreadfully fatigued and thirsty, I had not 
sufficient restraint upon myself to refuse the invitation 
held out to me to drink, which I did, and so became a 
partner in the crime. I was in the act of taking the jug 
of wine from my lips, when a party of the 1 6th Light 
Dragoons rode up and made us prisoners ; the peasant, 
from whom the wine had been taken, having made his com- 
plaint at head-quarters. We were imprisoned, nine of us 
in number, in Viseu. The second day, the Hon. Captain 
Pakenham,* of the Adjutant-General's department, paid us 
a visit, and told us he had had great difficulty in saving us 
from being hanged. Although this was probably said to 
frighten, still it was not altogether a joke, as a man of the 
name of Maguire of the 27th regiment, who had been with 
me in hospital, was hung for stopping and robbing a Portu- 
guese of a few vintems. 

As it was, the German officer in charge of the detach- 
ment received orders, on leaving Viseu, to see that we 
received two dozen each from the Provost-Marshal every 
morning, until we rejoined our regiments. This comfort- 
able kind of a breakfast I was not much inclined to relish, 
particularly as we had seven days' march to get through 
before we reached our battalion. The following day, the 
eight culprits and myself were summoned during a halt, to 
appear before the German, expecting to be punished. We 
were, however, agreeably deceived by the officer addressing 

* The Honourable Captain Pakenham was a brother-in-law to the Duke of 
Wellington. This gentleman, who belonged to my regiment, was much beloved 
by us all. He was always so considerate ! On every occasion when the fresh 
arrival of necessaries, meat, wine, &c, brought the men in crowds about the 
stores, he invariably would abide his turn, and, as though he were one of our- 
selves, oblige every new comer, whatever his rank, to submit to the same. This, 
though mere justice, for its rare occurrence with the other officers, was never 
forgotten by the men. Since his return from the Peninsula I have been told he 
was ordered to New Orleans, where he was killed. 



A SOLDIER. 27 

us as follows, to the best of my recollection, in broken 
English : 

" I have been told to have you mens flogged, for a crime 
dat is very bad and disgraceful to de soldier — robbing de 
people you come paid to fight for. But we do not flog in 
my country, so I shall not flog you, it not being de manner 
of my people ; I shall give you all to your Colonels, if they 
like to flog you, they may." 

Being thus relieved, each of us saluted the kind German 
and retired. From that moment, I have always entertained 
a high respect for our Germans, which indeed they ever 
showed themselves deserving of, from the British, not only 
on account of their humanity and general good feeling to 
us, but from their determined bravery and discipline in the 
field. As cavalry, they were the finest and most eflicient 
I ever saw in action ; and I had many opportunities of 
judging, as some troops of them generally did duty with us 
during the war. Indeed, while alluding to the cavalry of 
the German Legion, I cannot help remarking on trie care 
and fondness with which they regarded their horses. A 
German soldier seldom thought of food or rest for the 
night until his horse had been provided for. The noble 
animals, themselves, seemed perfectly aware of this atten- 
tion on the part of their riders, and I have often been 
amused by seeing some of the horses of the Germans run 
after their masters with all the playfulness of a dog. The 
consequence of this attention to their horses was, they were 
in condition when those of our own cavalry were dying, or 
otherwise in very deplorable state ; this, without wishing 
to throw a disparagement upon our own countrymen, I 
attributed to the difference of custom between the two 
countries. We never saw a German vidette or express 
galloping furiously, that we did not immediately know there 
was work for some one to do. "While on outpost duty their 
vigilance was most admirable. 



28 ADVENTURES OF 



CHAPTER V. 

Old Trowsers— Sleeping and waking— O'Hare again— Colonel Beckwith— Two 
upon one— Meagher— Barba del Puerco— General Crauford taken by surprise 
— The Portuguese incorporation with the light division — Rodrigo — Gallegos— 
The Beacon night scenes on picquet— Lord Wellington — Napoleon's Marriage 
— Crauford's stratagem— The French spy— We retreat to Fort Conception. 

I rejoined my regiment at Barba del Puerco, a small 
village near the banks of the river Coa, on the other side of 
which the enemy had taken up their position. Our regi- 
ment was cantoned in the surrounding villages, while 
nightly we mounted a captain's picquet on a height facing 
a bridge, on the other side of which the French had thrown 
out their advanced sentry. Two of our sentries were 
posted on the bridge, while a third was stationed half-way 
down the steep, to keep up the communication with our 
picquet above. 

On the 19th of May, the company to which I belonged 
was on picquet. It was a fine, though windy night, a 
fleecy scud occasionally obscuring the light of the moon. 
About twelve o'clock, while our men were mostly asleep, 
we were suddenly woke by the rifle reports of our sentries, 
and the French drums playing their advance " rub-a-dub- 
dub," which our men designated with the name of " old 
trowsers." I was now, as it were, but a young sleepy- 
headed boy, and as yet had been scarcely aroused to a true 
sense of the profession I had embraced. I had never been 
under the fire of a French musket, and I felt an indescrib- 
able thrill on this occasion. The chilly hour of the night 
and peculiar inclination to sleep, at the time, had sunk my 
senses below zero. But I was speedily startled out of my 
lethargy by the whizzing of the enemies' bullets, as they 
greeted my astonished hearing. My surprise soon, how- 
ever, gave place to perfect recollection, and in less than a 
minute we were all under arms, the balls of the French 
whistling about us as a column came rushing over the 
bridge to force our position. Captain O'Hare, with his 
characteristic coolness, immediately gave us the word to 
€£ seek cover/' and we threw ourselves forward among the 



A SOLDIER. 29 

rocky and broken ground, from whence we kept up a galling 
fire upon those who had commenced storming our heights. 

We were exceedingly hard pressed when three com- 
panies of our regiment, under Colonel Beckwiih, came up 
to our relief, and the contest for a while was both doubtful 
and bloody. But, after about half an hour's hard fighting, 
the enemy were obliged to retreat with much precipitation, 
and under a close and murderous fire from us. During 
this brief conflict some incidents occurred that, perhaps, 
are worth mentioning. Colonel Beckwith actually employed 
himself, at one time, in heaving large fragments of stone 
upon the French as they attempted to ascend the acclivity 
on which we were placed, and, while so engaged, got a 
musket-shot through his cap. 

Another officer of ours, the Adjutant Lieutenant Stewart, 
a fine tall fellow, was engaged in a personal contest with 
two of three grenadiers, a number of whom had managed to 
ascend the hill on our right ; at this critical moment one 
of our men, named Ballard, fortunately came to his aid, 
and shot one of his assailants, at which the other instantly 
surrendered. The above gallant officer, however, after- 
wards fell on our advance from Santarem the following 
year. «* 

This was, I believe, the first and last time the French 
ever attempted surprising a rifle picquet. 

Both our sentries at the bridge were taken prisoners, 
one of them badly wounded. A rather interesting recol- 
lection is attached to one of them, named Meagher, who, 
when the exchange of prisoners took place in 1814, 
returned to England and rejoined us at Dover. He was 
with us in France at the time of Waterloo, which, however, 
he was not present at on account of the following circum- 
stance. 

A quarrel had originated a few nights before the battle 
of Waterloo in a wine-house at Brussels, between some of 
our men, and the Belgian gens-d'armes, the consequence 
was, that the inhabitants were forced to send for the guards. 
These, of course, were soon on the spot, but were as soon 
attacked and beaten back by the Belgians, who would have 
driven them into the guard-house but for Meagher, who, 



30 ADVENTURES OF 

suddenly turning to the assailants, levelled his rifle and 
shot the foremost through the body ; on this, the whole of 
the gens-d'armes retreated, not, however, till after Meagher 
had received a cut on the side of the neck. For this affair 
he was put into prison, and a general court-martial honour- 
ably acquitted him, not until that battle had been fought 
which for ever destroyed Napoleon's hopes. Our company, 
to which Meagher belonged, soon after presented a requi- 
sition to Captain Leach, who then commanded us, and 
through his intercession, Meagher obtained a Waterloo 
medal. 

Shortly after this attempted surprise, we quitted Barba 
del Puerco for the town of Gallegos, situated some five or 
six miles from Ciudad Eodrigo. 

The following laughable incident occurred to me while 
we lay at Gallegos : — I happened to be acquainted with 
General Crauford's private servant, a German, chiefly 
through my being employed as orderly to the brigadier. 
At times when an opportunity offered, we used to take a 
glass of wine together upon the most convivial terms. One 
morning, however, when I thought the brigadier had gone 
out, as was his usual custom, I went to his room to ask the 
valet to partake of some wine which I had received from 
the patron of the house. On opening the door, I unhesi- 
tatingly went in, and beheld, as I imagined, the individual 
I wanted in a morning-gown looking out of the window. 
It entered into my head to surprise my servant friend, so, 
as he had not been disturbed by my approach, I stepped 
softly up to his rear, and with a sudden laugh, gave him a 
smart slap on the back. But my consternation and sur- 
prise may be better imagined than described, when the 
gentleman in the dressing-gown, starting round with a 
" Who the devil is that ?" disclosed— not the merry phiz 
of the valet, but the stern features of General Crauford 
himself. 

I thought I should have sunk through the ground at the 
moment, had it have opened to swallow me. I could only 
attempt to explain the mistake I had made, in a very 
humble way, as I gradually retreated to the door. 

" And where did you get the wine from, Sir?" inquired 



A SOLDIER. 31 

the General, with a good-humoured smile ; for he observed 
the fright I was in. 

I informed him. 

"Well, well, you may go/' said the General; "but, 
pray, Sir, never again do me the honour to take me for my 
servant." 

I needed not the permission to vanish in a moment. 
And many a laugh and jest were created at my expense 
afterwards among the men, as the circumstance got circu- 
lated by the valet. 

We were here joined by the 1st and 3rd regiment of the 
Portuguese Cacadores. These fellows I never had any 
opinion of from the very first moment I saw them. They 
were the dirtiest and noisiest brutes I ever came across. 
Historians of the day have given them great credit ; but 
during the whole of the Peninsular War, or, at least, the 
time they were with us, I never knew them to perform one 
gallant act. On the line of march they often reminded 
me of a band of strollers. They were very fond of gambling, 
and every halt we made was sure to find them squatted, and 
with cards in their hands. 

One of these regiments was placed under the command 
of a captain of ours, named Elder, a brave officer, who was 
made Colonel of the 3rd ; and being afterwards severely 
wounded at Badajos, returned to England; at the same 
period, also, we were incorporated with the 14th and 16th 
Light Dragoons, together with the 3rd regiment of German 
Hussars, and Captain Bull's troop of horse artillery. 

The French had now commenced laying siege to Ro- 
drigo, and we were terribly harassed by the severity of our 
duty, being both day and night accoutred and under arms ; 
indeed, we were daily expecting an attack. 

A section of our rifles usually mounted picquet with a 
troop of dragoons, and occupied, accordingly, three different 
points — Carpio, Molina dos Flores and Marialva ; all about 
two miles nearer to Rodrigo. Bull's troop of artillery re- 
mained always near a church, in the centre of the village of 
Gallegos, and at all times kept a gun ready loaded with 
blank carriage, and a sentry near it, watching a beacon 
erected on a hill, about a mile from the village. A vidette 



32 ADVENTURES OF 

and one of our riflemen were placed near the beacon in case 
of the picquets being attacked, to give alarm hy discharging 
his piece into the combustibles, and so setting it on fire ; 
or, in case of its not igniting, to ride round it three times, 
with his cap mounted on his sword, at which signal the gun 
was instantly fired, and the whole division were immediately 
under arms. 

As I have remarked, we were greatly harassed ; our 
picquets and the French were constantly in the habit of 
firing at each other, and scarce a day passed without some 
of the men being brought in, either killed or wounded. 
We had not yet established that understanding with the 
enemy, which avoided unnecessary bloodshed at the outposts 
which afterwards tended much to humanize the war. 

Meanwhile the siege of Rodrigo was vigorously carried 
on by the French. The weather was intensely hot, and 
we delighted in bathing in a small river that flowed between 
the beacon-hill and the village. Many of us, while so 
amusing ourselves, would take these opportunities to wash 
our shirts in the running stream, laying them out to dry on 
the sand. Frequently, however, when thus employed, the 
alarm gun would be fired, and in a moment we might be 
observed, like so many water sprites, jumping out of the 
stream and hurrying on the wet shirts, actually wringing, 
and throwing them over our shoulders, while we fell in 
with our comrades. It was rather surprising, that I never 
felt any ill effects from these wet habiliments ; but the 
men, from constant exposure, had become as hardy as the 
soil itself. 

From the novelty, however, of the picquet duty, the men 
preferred it always to any other : as we amused ourselves 
generally at night watching the shells exchanged between 
the besieged and the assailants, the sight was very beautiful, 
sometimes as many as seven or eight-and- twenty crossing 
each other, like so many comets. 

Once we were visited by the Duke himself, who, although 
his head-quarters were at the time, I believe, at Viseu, 
distant somewhat about twenty leagues, had come on a 
reconnoitring excursion to our outline picquets. While on 
sentry one clay I recollect his Grace placing his telescope 



A SOLDIER. 33 

on my shoulders to take a view of the enemy's position. 
Our intelligence was chiefly derived from deserters, a 
number of whom daily came over to us, and gave informa- 
tion that Ciudad could not hold out much longer. 

One day we were unusually alarmed hj an extraordinary 
bustle in the French camp ; being on the advanced picquet, 
I could distinctly hear the cheering of men and firing of 
cannon : the whole of our division was ordered to fall in, 
and it was not until the morning following, that we 
learned that it originated in the news from Paris, of the 
Emperor's marriage with the Archduchess Marie Louise 
of Austria. 

We now daily held ourselves in expectation of an attack, 
and were under arms every morning at one o'clock, five 
minutes only being allowed for the whole division to fall in. 
Bat we seldom took our accoutrements off, and used both 
to sleep and to cook with them on. The baggage was 
paraded every morning half a mile to the rear, and every 
other precaution taken by the Brigadier for an orderly 
retreat, as the French were in our front and in overwhelm- 
ing force, while our division was scarcely more than four 
thousand strong. One of the General's stratagems to 
make our small force appear more numerous in the eyes of 
the French, was to draw the regiments up in rank entire. 
After, however, several months of severe hardship at Gal- 
legos, General Crauford w^as at last obliged to change his 
ground, and we retreated to Allameda, a little town about 
two miles in our rear, and on the main road leading to the 
fortified town of iUmeida : we remained here a few days, 
and took a French spy, who had passed among us as a 
lemonade-merchant. His indifference and carelessness in 
accepting remuneration for his beverage, which was in con- 
stant request, together with his laughing one day very 
significantly when one of our men was swearing at the 
French for the trouble they caused, induced a sergeant to 
apprehend him. He was brought before General Crauford, 
and on his being searched, letters were found upon him 
that proved him to be a French Colonel. He was sent to 
the rear : how, indeed, he managed to escape the doom he 
had rendered himself liable to, I know not. 



34 ADVENTURES OF 

A few mornings after this, the French came down in 
great force, and we were obliged to retire. This we did 
slowly, covered by Captain Ross's guns and our rifles, 
assisted also by a few troops of the 14th and 16th Dra- 
goons and 3rd German Hussars. We retired with very 
little loss, for a distance of four or five miles, to Fort Con- 
ception in front of the little town of Villa de Mula. Here 
we went into cantonments. We were now close on the 
borders of Portugal, which is here divided from Spain only 
by a small stream — at this spot, so narrow, that in some 
places it may be jumped over. We daily mounted a picquet 
of two companies at the fort, which was a beautiful work, 
in the shape of a star. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Villa de Mula — Night expedition to Villa de Puerco — Both parties retire — 
Death of Colonel Talbot — A soldier's grave — The effects of a miscarriage — 
Fort Conception blown up — A mistake and no mistake— Another mistake, a 
ball in the right knee — The bridge over the Coa — A friend in need, a friend 
indeed — Charity abroad and at home — A surgeon's advice — A blessing — 
A cough, an uncomfortable companion — Spanish apathy — We arrive at 
Fraxedas. 

A few days after our arrival at Villa de Mula, a part of 
the division formed a night expedition to surprise and cut 
off one or two French regiments that nightly occupied an 
advanced position on our right, retiring every morning 
about daylight. The rifles got under arms at ten o'clock 
at night, and were soon afterwards joined by several com- 
panies of the 43rd and 52nd regiments, together with one 
or two troops of the 14th Light Dragoons, and some of our 
favourite Germans. We soon guessed that some secret 
enterprise was about to be undertaken, as strict orders were 
issued to keep the men from talking, and to make them 
refrain from lighting their pipes, lest our approach should 
be noticed by the enemy. Even the wheels of two of 
Captain Ross's guns that accompanied us, were muffled 
round with haybands to prevent their creaking. 

In this disposition we proceeded in the direction of the 



A SOLDIER. 35 

left of the enemy's position which rested on Villa de 
Puerco, We had all loaded before marching, and were 
anxiously looking forward to the result, when a whispering 
order was given to enter a large field of standing corn and 
to throw ourselves on the ground. There we anxiously 
waited the first dawn of day for the expected engagement. 
At length the cold gray of the morning appeared faintly in 
the east, when the commands were given with scarce 
a pause between to " fall in," u double," and w extend." 
This was accomplished in a moment, and forward we ran 
through the corn field up to an eminence, looking down 
from which we beheld a gallant skirmish on the plain 
beneath. The 14th Dragoons were in the act of charging 
a body of French infantry, who had, however, thrown 
themselves into square. The cavalry cheered forward 
in gallant style, but the French, veteran like, stood firm 
to meet the onset, pouring in, at the same time, a close 
running fire that emptied many saddles. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Talbot, who headed the charge, fell almost im- 
mediately, together with the quarter-master and from 
sixteen to eighteen privates. After an unavailing attempt 
to shake the square, the cavalry was obliged to retire — 
a movement which the enemy on their part immediately 
imitated. An attempt was made to annoy them with 
our guns, but in consequence of their smallness, being 
but light field-pieces, our shots were attended with very 
little effect. 

The following day, we buried Colonel Talbot and the 
quarter-master close to the porch of the little chapel in 
the village we occupied — a somewhat romantic-looking 
spot for a soldier's grave. The miscarriage of our enter- 
prise, it was generally rumoured, had brought our general 
into bad odour at head-quarters ; indeed, for some days 
after, I thought he wore a troubled look, as though he 
took our failure to heart. 

As I have already remarked, two of our companies 
alternately did duty in front of our position, at Fort 
Conception. The orders issued to the officer commanding 
the picquet were to blow up the fort immediately on the 
approach of the enemy, for which purpose it was under- 

d 2 



36 ADVENTURES OF 

mined in several places by the artillerymen, who were left 
to tire the mines when the order should be given. 

On the morning of the 19th of July, our company 
and another were on duty at this point, and it was generally 
expected we should be attacked on the morrow. I think 
the intelligence was brought by a deserter. The fort con- 
tained a great quantity of good English rum and biscuit, 
which Captain O'Hare allowed the men of both companies 
to help themselves to and fill their canteens, upon their 
promise, which they kept, not to get drunk. The follow- 
ing morning, before it was scarcely light, the enemy proved 
the correctness of our anticipations by advancing upon us 
in heavy columns, preceded by their light troops. The 
command was instantly given to fire the mines, and we 
retired upon our division. A few minutes after our 
quitting the fort, its beautiful proportions, which had 
excited the admiration of so many beholders, was broken, 
as by the shock of an earthquake, into a blackened heap of 
ruin. 

We retreated under the walls of Almeida, where we 
halted until the 23rd, when at night we experienced a 
storm that for violence, while it lasted, exceeded anything 
I had ever before beheld. The lightning, thunder, wind, 
and rain were absolutely awful. With a few other men, I 
had sought shelter in the hollow of a rock, where we were 
not a little amazed at the numbers of snakes and lizards 
which the occasional gleams of lightning exhibited to 
us running about in all directions, as though the tempest 
had the effect of bringing them all from their holes. 

At break of day, the music that we were now getting 
quite accustomed to — i. e. the cracking of the rifles of our 
outline picquet, gave intelligence of the enemy's advance. 
Our company was immediately ordered to support them. 
Captain O'Hare accordingly placed us behind some dilapi- 
dated walls, we awaited the approach of the picquet then 
under the Hon. Captain Steward engaged about half a mile 
in our front, and slowly retreating upon us. They had 
already, as it afterwards appeared, several men killed, 
while Lieutenant M'Culloch had been wounded. and taken 
prisoner with a number of others. We could distinctly see 



A SOLDIER. 37 

the enemy's columns in great force, but had little time for 
observation, as our advance ran in upon us followed by the 
French tirailleurs, with whom we were speedily and hotly 
engaged. The right wing of the 52nd regiment, at this 
period, was drawn up about one hundred yards in our rear 
behind a low wall, when a shell, which with several others 
was thrown amongst us from the town, burst so near, that 
it killed several of our men, and buried a sergeant so com- 
pletely in mud, but without hurting him, that we were 
obliged to drag him out of the heap, to prevent his being 
taken by the enemy* — at this moment also Lieutenant 
Cohen who stood close to me received a shot through the 
body. My old Captain, O'Hare, perceiving him roll his 
eyes and stagger, caught him by the arm, saying in a 
rather soft tone to the men about him : 

" Take that poor boy to the rear, he does not know what 
is the matter with him," and with the same characteristic 
coolness, he continued his duties. While hotly engaged, 
however, with the French infantry in our front, one or 
two troops of their hussars which, from the similarity 
of uniform, we had taken for our German hussars, whipped 
on our left flank between our company and the wing of the 
52nd, when a cry of " the French cavalry are upon us," 
came too late as they charged in amongst us. Taken thus 
unprepared, we could oppose but little or no resistance, and 
our men were trampled down and sabred, on every side. 
A French dragoon had seized me by the collar, while 
several others, as they passed, cut at me with their swords. 
The man who had collared me had his sabre's point at my 
breast, when a volley was fired from our rear by the 52nd, 
who, by this time had discovered their mistake, which 
tumbled the horse of my captor. He fell heavily with the 
animal on his leg, dragging me down with him. 

It was but for a moment nevertheless : determined to 
have one brief struggle for liberty, I freed myself from the 

* I must here remark, that these shells were thrown at us by mistake, as the 
town was in the possession of our friends the Portuguese, under the command 
of Colonel Cox, a British officer, who from our position being near the enemy, as 
well as our green dress, must have mistaken us for the latter. Almeida was 
afterwards taken by the French. 



38 ADVENTURES OF 

dragoon's grasp, and dealing him a severe blow on the 
head with the butt of my rifle, I rushed up to the wall 
of our 52nd, which I was in the act of clearing at a jump, 
when I received a shot under the cap of my right knee and 
instantly fell. In this emergency, there seemed a speedy 
prospect of my again falling into the hands of the French, 
as the division was in rapid retreat, but a comrade of the 
name of Little instantly dragged me over the wall, and 
was proceeding as quick as possible with me, on his back, 
towards the bridge of the Coa, over which our men were 
fast pouring, when he, poor fellow! also received a shot, 
which passing through his arm smashed the bone, and 
finally lodged itself in my thigh, where it has ever since 
remained.* In this extremity, Little was obliged to 
abandon me, but urged by a strong desire to escape im- 
prisonment, I made another desperate effort, and managed 
to get over the bridge, from the other side of which 
Captain Ross's guns were in full roar, covering our retreat ; 
in this crippled state and faint through loss of blood, I made 
a second appeal to a comrade, who assisted me to ascend a 
hill on the other side of the river. 

On the summit, we found a chapel which had been 
converted into a temporary hospital, where a number of 
wounded men were being taken to have their wounds 
dressed by the surgeons. Fortunately, I had not long to 
wait for my turn, for as we momentarily expected the 
coming of the French, everything was done with the 
greatest dispatch. 

In this affair our company sustained a very severe loss ; 
our return was, " one officer, Lieutenant Cohen, quite a 
youth, dangerously wounded, eleven file killed and wounded, 
and forty-five taken prisoners." 

My old Captain O'Hare had only eleven men on parade 
next day. The preceding facts will serve to show the 
unmilitary reader, that skirmishes are frequently more 
partially destructive to riflemen than general actions, 
although attended with but little of their celebrity. For 

* Strange as it may appear, this ball may be this hour felt with as much ease 
as the first day it entered, forty-two years bask. 



A SOLDIER. 39 

my own pari, I was never nearer death, excepting on 
the night we took Badajoz. 

I must not forget a singular escape that occurred : a 
man of the name of Charity, of my own company, when 
the cavalry first rushed upon us, had fallen, wounded in 
the head by a sabre, while on the ground, he received 
another severe sword slash on the seat of honour, and a 
shot through the arm, the latter, no doubt, from the 52nd. 
Yet after all this, he managed to escape, and 

Clothed in scarlet lived to tell the tale, 

as a pensioner in Chelsea Hospital. 

Having no mules nor waggons to accommodate us, the 
surgeons advised all who were by any means capable of 
moving, to get on as quick as they could to Pinhel. 

There were of our regiment about seventy or eighty dis- 
abled, a number of those hobbled onwards assisting each 
other by turns. 

We commenced our slow and painful march, and by the 
help of a couple of rifles that served as crutches, I managed 
to reach the first village where the Juiz or chief magistrate 
selected, and put the worst of our wounded into bullock- 
carts. Amongst those I fortunately was one ; and although 
crammed with six others into a wretched little vehicle, 
scarcely capable of accommodating more than two, I 
thought it a blessing for which I could not feel sufficiently 
thankful. 

In this manner, we were dragged along all night, and by 
the following daylight we halted at another village, where 
I felt so dreafully faint from loss of blood and my confined 
position, that I could not move at all. While refreshing 
our parched lips with some water that had been eagerly 
demanded, Lord Wellington and some of his staff gal- 
loped up. Glancing his eye at us for a moment, and 
seeing our crowded condition in the carts, he instantly 
gave an order to one of his aides-de-camp to obtain 
additional conveyance from the Juiz de Fora, and also 
bread and wine. His Lordship then rode off towards 
Almeida. 

Although neither bread nor wine made their appearance, 



40 ADVENTURES OF 

a few additional carts were procured, into one of which I 
was transferred with four other men. 

We again continued our march, until we came into a 
stream of water where we halted ; here we lost a most ex- 
cellent officer, a Lieutenant Pratt,* who was wounded 
through the neck, and at first appeared to be doing very 
well. He was seated on one of the men's knapsacks con- 
versing with some of his wounded brother officers, when he 
w T as suddenly seized with a violent fit of coughing, and 
almost instantly began pumping a quantity of blood from 
the wound. I never before saw so much come from any 
man. 

It appeared that the ball, which went through his neck, 
had passed so close to the carotid artery, that the exertion 
of coughing had burst it, and it became impossible to stop 
the haemorrhage. He bled to death, and warm as he was, 
they covered him in the sand and proceeded. After we 
had been driven some few miles further, one of my 
wounded comrades, who was shot through the body, and 
whose end seemed momentarily approaching, at length, in 
a dying state relaxed his hold from the cart sides and fell 
across me as I lay at the bottom, whilst foam mixed with 
blood kept running from his mouth. This with his glass 
eyes fixed on mine made me feel very uncomfortable. 
Being weak and wounded myself, I had not power to 
move him, and in this situation, the horrors of which sur- 
vived for some time in my mind, death put an end to his 
suffe rings, but without granting me any respite for some 
hours. His struggles having ceased, however, I was 
enabled to recover myself a little, and called to the driver 
to remove the body. But the scoundrel of a Portuguese, 
who kept as much ahead of the bullocks as possible, was 
so afraid of the French, that I could get no other answer 
from him than " non quireo," " don't bother me," and a 
significant shrug of the shoulder, which bespoke even more 
than his words. 

At length we arrived at Fraxedas on the road to Coimbra, 

* Among the officers wounded was the present Sir H. Smith, his brother Tom 
also. The former being on the staff had a cedan with two mules to carry him ; 
the latter was packed with the men in bullock-carts. 



A SOLDIER. 41 

where we found the 1st division encamped outside the 
town. Here I got rid of my dead comrade, and we had 
our wounds dressed. The guards, who belonged to the 
1st division, behaved to us with a kindness which I never 
can forget ; as we had no men of our own to attend to us, 
forty of their number, under an officer, were ordered to 
supply our wants until we arrived at Lisbon. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Mondego — The Coimbra— Figueras — The maggots— Lisbon — Battle of Busacc — 
Retreat to Torres Vedras — Lord Wellington's generalship — Belem — Jack 
ashore and Jonathan also — Yankey and Lankey— Billy M'Nabb — The High- 
land kite and. Lowland tail — Josh. Hetherington — Sperum Poco — Portuguese 
piety — Aruda — Doing what the enemy left undone — Tom Crawley again — In 
state — A hot berth — Our enemies laugh at Tom in his glory. 

From Fraxedas we pursued our way to Mondego, and 
from thence we passed in boats down the river through 
Coimbra, to the sea-port of Figueras. Sick and ill as I 
was, I well recollect the exquisite scenery that met our 
gaze on the banks of that beautiful river, as we floated over 
its surface to our destination. 

The heat of the weather was intense and dreadfully 
affected our wounds. The scarcity of doctors too, and the 
fear of falling into the hands of the enemy, spurred every 
one forward, and so took up the moments that the surgeons 
had not time sufficient nor opportunity to look after us. 
The consequence was, that this neglect caused maggots to 
be engendered in the sores, and the bandages, when with- 
drawn, brought away on them lumps of putrid flesh and 
maggots. Many died on board, and numbers were reduced 
in consequence to the necessity of amputation. By care 
and syringing sweet oil into my wounds, I however had 
managed to get rid of them. 

At Figueras we embarked on board some transports that 
there waited our arrival, and we sailed for Lisbon, where, 
in a short time, we landed, and borne on stretchers by some 
men of the Ordinanza or Portuguese Militia, were conveyed 
to the hospital. 



42 ADVENTURES OF 

From regular and kind treatment there, I soon recovered ; 
and the British army retired towards Lisbon. 

It may perhaps be necessary, before I continue my 
personal narrative, to observe, that Lord Wellington, find- 
ing his numbers greatly unequal to the enemy was obliged 
to retreat. This, it is well known, he directed in a very 
skilful manner, having long before anticipated the proba- 
bility of such an event by the erection of the lines of 
Torres Vedras. During the retreat, his Lordship ordered 
the people of the country to accompany the troops, and to 
destroy all those things which they could not carry with 
them. By this precaution, Massena's army, on the track 
of the British and Portuguese, through want of food 
and necessaries, were reduced to the greatest privations, of 
which the Marshal bitterly complained in his despatches of 
that period. 

Perhaps few events in the Peninsular war reflect more 
credit upon Lord Wellington, as a commander, than the 
admirable manner in which he had thus drawn an over- 
whelming force of the French into actual famine, in front 
of works that afforded security and plenty to his own com- 
paratively small force. 

In a few weeks after our arrival at Lisbon, I became 
sufficiently recovered to leave the hospital and was accord- 
ingly transferred to Belem, a place much noted amongst us 
for every species of skulk, but better known to my fellow 
soldiers as the " Belem rangers." The chief part of the 
58th and 87th regiments, the latter I believe from the 
severe loss they had sustained at Talavera, were doing duty 
there. 

Belem itself is about two miles from Lisbon, but con- 
tiguous to it, or, as the suburbs of London are to the city. 
I was here, as it were, quite at my ease ; and usually spent 
my time rambling about the quays. The port was thronged 
with shipping, bringing troops and stores from England, 
and if I recollect rightly, the ' Hibernia,' the ' Caledonia,' 
and the c Britannia,' and other ships of war lay in the 
bay ; at all events, we constantly intermixed with the sailors, 
and were mostly coupled with them ; some recognising 
old friends — town-mates ; and others, nearer and dearer 



A SOLDIER. 43 

ties, and forming new links and acquaintances; this the 
peculiarity of our situations naturally tended to strengthen, 
fighting as we were in the same cause, though on different 
elements. One day, however, I rememher being present at 
a regular row in a wine-house, between an American and 
a Lancashire man. They both belonged to the same ship, 
and from what I could understand, were very quarrelsome 
fellows, and the most unfair fighters on board. 

The Yankee was from Kentucky, and had a precious 
knack of " gouging" as they termed it, or, screwing his 
finger into the side locks of his opponent, and so with his 
thumb poking his eyes out. One or two on board had 
been "jockied" in this way. The Lancashire man, alias 
"Tummas," alias "Lankey," who had nearly lost one eye 
by a splinter at Trafalgar, seemed unwilling to risk the 
loss of the other in any encounter with him. 

" But," said he, " I tell you what, you bl — d cowardly 
sea sarpent, if it warnt that I fear'd your fingering this 'ere 
solitary blinker o' mine, I'd dust your Yankee jacket for 
you." 

The " gouger," however, despite the confession, though 
ready for a scrimmage, had some inward dread also, and 
seemed to dislike altogether the hazard of being bit, slob- 
bered, and perhaps kicked to a jelly. The Englishman's 
friends, nevertheless, came to a council of war ; and it was 
agreed at last, that though ashore, they should thump it 
out " ship fashion." 

" For you know," said a short, fat, big-whiskered, little 
sailor, who, I believe, was the boatswain, " I'm d — d if 
they can kick, scratch, gouge or bite, when they hangs by 
their starn sheets." 

It was settled, therefore, that they should have it out on 
a barrel. 

A butt big enough to hold the rations of a whole 
division, was soon procured of the Patrone, and the 
little man bolted to the boats for some large nails and a 
hammer. 

The barrel meantime, was rolled out to the centre of the 
quay, and to keep it steady, settled longways between two 
heaps of stones. Meanwhile the two combatants could 



44 ADVENTURES OF 

scarcely be kept from each other, till the " little-whiskers" 
returned. 

" Clear the gangways !" at last roared a voice from the 
crowd, and the boatswain bounced, almost breathless, to 
the barrel. In a few minutes, Yankee and Lankey were 
seated, and the little man first nailing one by a small bit 
of the bottom of his canvas trowsers to the barrel edge, 
and the other by the same contingency to the other, 
brought them fronting and about two feet apart. The two 
then proceeded to balance their fists, like rope-dancers' poles, 
and fixing their eyes on each other, awaited the signal to begin. 

" Now, gemmen," bellowed the boatswain, " clear the 
decks ; and you, Tummas, for the honour of your mess- 
mates let's have no shamming afore these ere Portugals and 
biled lobsters. Now, softly, my lads : when you sees me 
put my quid into my jaws — " the two men looked at each 
other ; " heave in your broadsides." 

The words were scarcely out, when in flopped the quid, 
and the combatants commenced hammering away at each 
other at what both, perhaps, thought hurricane rate. 

In the course of a few rounds Tummas fell, but caught 
by his breech, remaining hanging over the barrel edge ; up 
however, he was re- seated, and at it they went again until 
Yankee fell also, and hung in the same manner. 

" Excellent !" roared the boatswain, " excellent pre- 
wentative, or my old aunt warnt a wirgin !" 

Yankee was soon himself, and they closed again, round 
after round, until the two champions hung powerless at the 
same moment. 

" Drawn fight !" bellowed the little man again ; " both 
tough ones ;" and he proceeded to separate with an enor- 
mous clasp knife the fixtures at their trowsers : all this 
while the crowd about them were convulsed with laughter, 
which was further increased by a hole in each of the com- 
batant's trowsers, which the boatswain had carefully cut 
large enough almost to admit the barrel. Tbe two sailors, 
however, having recovered themselves, and with a growl 
tucked back the blue check, steered away to the wine- house. 

Among the officers of our battalion that had been 
wounded at Almeida, was one Captain Mitchell, who having 



A SOLDIER. 45 

received a ball through the arm, was transferred with us to 
Lisbon : when sufficiently recover ed, he one morning came 
to the convalescent barrack to muster those who were willing 
and able to rejoin their regiments. Amongst others 
selected, was a man named Billy M'Nabb, of our corps, a 
most notorious skulker and a methodist. He had scarcely 
ever done duty with his company, but had remained sneak- 
ing about the hospital as an orderly ; and occasionally 
preaching and praying to the drunken soldiers in the streets 
of Lisbon. Captain Mitchell, however, had made up his 
mind that M'Nabb should see the enemy before he returned 
to England, and as a "persuasive," when Billy most vio- 
lently resisted the summons, ordered him to be tied to the 
bullock-cart, amid the jeers of the soldiers, and conveyed 
back to his regiment. But it was only for a short period, 
as Billy got tired of the " sight,' 5 and took the earliest 
opportunity to decamp, for he suddenly disappeared from 
among us, and but for my having seen him since preaching 
in the streets of London, should have been inclined to think 
he never returned home at all. 

The morning that the convalescents fell in to start for 
the main-army, we were joined by a batch of recruits, 
chiefly intended for the 68th and 85th regiments. They 
were a squad of plump, rosy-cheeked, smart-looking fellows, 
and like ourselves, each of them had been provided with 
five days' rations in advance ; consisting of salt pork, bis- 
cuits, and rum, the first of which they cooked ready for the 
march. 

Their officer in command was an astonishing man, nearly 
seven feet high. I shall never forget him : by his high- 
cheeked bones and dark complexion, I took him at first to 
be a foreigner ; but as soon as he spoke, his broad accent 
declared him to be a North Briton, as far north as could 
be. He seemed well acquainted with every theory, or that 
part of a campaign which is generally digested at home ; 
and as a sample of this, he ordered his men, in accordance 
with the regulations of Dundas, the then Commander-in- 
chief, to halt and rest ten minutes or a quarter of an hour 
at the end of every three miles. 

" Coom, men," he would say, pulling out his gold watch, 



46 ADVENTURES OF 

"ye ken, I suppose, yer three miles is up, set ye down and 
eat a pound, the mair ye tak into yer stomachs the less 
ye '11 carry on yer backs." This over, the watch would be 
again in requisition, and it would be, "Coom men, yer 
quarter of an hour is nearly up, ye maun aye be ganging 
again ;" and the men, of course, would fall in. By thus 
halting every three miles, and eating a pound each time, 
before we reached Mafra, at the end of the second day's 
march, the men had "pounded" the whole of their five 
days' rations,, and some of them began to growl most 
confoundedly from the want of provisions. Wishing 
to know the cause, he sent for the sergeant, and desired 
him to inquire, when the latter informed him. 

" Hoot mon, ye dinna say that, do ye ? Tell them 
all to fall in. I fear I maun chop a wee logic with them." 

" Oh ye hungry hounds," he exclaimed, when the men 
appeared before him. "Ye dinna ken the grand army 
yet ; not content now, ye maun aye whistle then, for 
ye waunna get in ten days then what your hungry maws 
have now devoor'd in twa !" saying which, he placed him- 
self at their head, to direct their movements when on 
the march. I used to liken him to a kite, while the files, 
of short men after him, reminded me of the tail. His 
shoulders were so broad and yet so skinny and square, and 
his height so convenient, that without stirring a peg from 
the front section, he would wave his sword and look over 
their heads down the ranks and see every manoeuvre. 

Amongst the convalescents, but very recently from Cock- 
ney shire, was a man named Josias Hetherington. This 
fellow was one of the queerest I ever met with, and I 
verily believe had seen service before, but amongst gipsies, 
prigs, gaol-birds, and travelling showmen. There was not 
a move but what he was up to, and in addition to these, he 
was an excellent ventriloquist, and terrified the inhabitants 
as we went along, whenever an occasion offered. 

I think it was on the third day's march, we had stopped 
for the night in a small village, and as it happened. Josh, 
and I got billeted in the same house together. Outside 
our quarters in front of the house, was a small square 
(every town, village and pig-stye in Portugal has one,) 



A SOLDIER. 4/ 

in the middle of which and while we were cooking our 
rations the inhabitants had commenced a fandango. This 
also is usual on Sundays in Portugal. Attracted by 
the whistle and a small drum beaten by a short, dumpy, 
ugly looking lump of a Portuguese, Josh, and I would 
occasionally run down to join, and leave our pots beside 
the Patrone' s wood fire as close as we could to the red 
embers. But invariably, when we came in to take a peep 
at the boiling progress, we found our utensils moved aside 
and the contents as cold as charity. Josh, looked at me, 
and I at Josh., the same as to say, "Who the blazes 
moves our meat about so ?" Josh, however hearing foot- 
steps on the stairs, popped me and himself after into a 
kind of pantry. I partially closed the door, and there we 
stood watching. 

In a few minutes in came the Patrone or lady of the 
house, and looking about her a little, bounced to our little 
utensils, and was proceeding to purloin the meat, muttering 
something to herself at the same moment. But she had 
scarcely put a hand to it, when a voice as if from the pot 
plainly told her to " Sperum poco," (wait a little.) The 
old woman frisked up, looked doubtful, crossed herself, and 
with the courage this afforded, again attacked the pot. 
But the same words only quick and smart as a rifle shot, 
sent her reeling and screeching to the corner of the kitchen. 
" Oh Santa Maria ! oh Jesu, oh la deos ! Pedro aye el 
demonio ei in panello, (the devil's in the pot,) Santa Maria 
ora — ora — ora — ora pro nobis !" and the good soul went 
off in a Portuguese fit. 

Josh, and I, scarcely able to contain our mirth, rushed 
out of the house instantly and joined in the crowd, which 
her screams were collecting about the door-way. The old 
Patrone, when she recovered, was off in a twinkling to the 
Priest and the Alcalde, but it was all in vain, the billet 
could not be changed, for the whole village equally feared 
the devil, and we held quiet possession till the next morn- 
ing, and might have carried away the house for what the 
old Patrone cared, for she left her domicile and never 
returned till we had marched out of the place. 

The following day, 12th of October, 1810, I rejoined my 



40 ADVENTURES OF 

regiment encamped near a small village on the lines of 
Torres Vedras, called Aruda, where I found my old 
Captain, who despite his severe loss, had scraped together 
a snug company, partly from men who had made their 
escape from the French after the affair at Almeida, but 
chiefly from a batch of recruits that joined our first 
battalion with the third of our regiment that came from 
England while I was in hospital. Aruda was a pretty 
little place enough until we mounted our picquets, when 
the men dreadfully defaced it, perhaps from a belief that 
the French might enter — a pleasure they never had. 

The inhabitants whose fears had been enhanced by its 
exposed situation had nearly all evacuated the place, taking 
with them only the most portable and valuable of their 
effects, and leaving the houses, as it were, furnished and 
tenantless. The change was the more extraordinary from 
the circumstance of its pleasant site having for many years 
made it a country resort for the rich citizens of Lisbon. 

For a few days after our arrival, it presented a picture of 
most wanton desolation. Furniture of a most splendid 
description in many instances was laid open to the spolia- 
tion of the soldiery. Elegant looking-glasses wrenched 
from the mantle-pieces were wantonly broken to obtain 
bits to shave by, and their encasures, with chairs, tables, 
&c, &c, used as common fire-wood for the picquets; an 
Israelite would have gloated over the gilded embers, and 
have deemed perhaps one of them as under the value of 
what our united fire-places might have been reduced to. 
These proceedings, however, unravel the secret of spending 
" half-a-crown out of sixpence a day," and the philosophical 
reader will perhaps admit of the plea, that if we had not, 
the French would have done it for us, an event which we 
expected, though it fortunately never was realized. 

Tom Crawley was particularly pre-eminent in this havoc ; 
his enormous strength and length fitting him especially for 
the pulling down and Cf breaking up" department. 

Our company was one night on picquet at Aruda ; we 
had, as usual, made a blazing fire close to the stable of a 
large house, which in the morning we had noticed, con- 
tained a very handsome carriage (the only one by-the-bye 



A SOLDIER. 49 

that I had ever seen in Portugal). Rather late in the 
evening we missed Torn — who, by the way, had a great 
love of exploring the houses of the village, and whom we 
imagined to be employed in his favourite amusement, 
" looking for wine." After having consumed sundry 
chairs to keep alive our fire, we found it necessary to 
obtain fresh fuel, and while consulting where it was to 
come from, one man, with an oath, proposed to burn the 
Portuguese coach. The novelty of the thing among our 
thoughtless fellows was received with acclamations, and as 
our officers were absent in a house close by, several started 
up on their legs for the purpose. The stable-doors were 
immediately opened, and the coach wheeled backwards 
into the large blazing fire. " This will make a jolly roast !" 
exclaimed several of the men, as the paint and paneling 
began to crack under the influence of the heat. Our 
scamps were laughing and enjoying what they called a 
capital joke, but just as the flames were beginning to curl 
up around the devoted vehicle, a roar like that of a bull 
came from its interior, and threw us for a moment into 
consternation : immediately afterwards one of the glasses 
was dashed out, and Tom Crawley's big head was thrust 
through the window, amid shouts of laughter from the 
men, as he cried out — " Oh bad luck to your sowls ! are 
you going to burn me alive ?" At the same moment, 
urged powerfully by the heat of his berth, he made the 
most violent efforts to open the door, which from the 
handle being heated, was a difficult and painful operation. 
We had some trouble ere we could extricate the poor 
fellow, and then not before he was severely scorched. It 
afterwards appeared he had gone half tipsy into the car- 
riage, and was taking a snooze, when he was so warmly 
awoke. After this occurrence, Crawley used to boast of 
going to sleep with one eye open. 

At this period the French soldiers and ourselves began 
to establish a very amicable feeling, apart from duty in the 
field. It was a common thing for us to meet each other 
daily at the houses between our lines, when perhaps both 
parties would be in search of wine and food. In one of 
the houses so situated, I remember once finding Crawley 

E 



50 ADVENTURES OF 

in a drunken state in company with a couple of French 
soldiers. I was mortified by the merriment his appear- 
ance had excited, and could with difficulty get him away, 
as he stripped, and offered to fight the whole three of us 
for laughing at him. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The enemy retire upon Santarem — We retire upon Vallee — The bridge over the 
Rio Mayor — The French out-lying sentries — Their camp ground — Comparative 
quietude — The still — Escape from assassination — Tom Crawley's ghost story 
— The " Death and Glory men" — The charms of a Brunswickian appetite — 
Their desertions — Sergeant Fleming — His court-martial — We meet our enemies 
on the water and contend — A comment on both sides. 

About the middle of November the enemy retired, and 
we made a movement to follow them towards Santarem, 
which they immediately occupied and strongly fortified. 
As soon as we came in sight of their works, our battalion 
received orders to cross a river (the Rio Mayor), which 
discharged itself into the Tagus, about half a mile lower 
down on our right. While executing this movement, we 
met with rather a warm reception, which became more 
intense as we attempted to get a peep into their position ; 
we however were obliged in turn to retreat, and finally 
took up our cantonments at a place called Vallee. The 
regiment was distributed in companies on the houses on 
both sides of the main road, that to which I was attached 
being in an old wine- store near the bridge crossing the 
Mayor. 

On this bridge we had double sentries, and abbatis of 
fallen trees. But the better to foil the incursions of the 
enemy, the arches had been undermined, and the powder 
secured from the wet by bullocks' hides, trained ready for 
explosion. 

About two hundred yards in front of this were the 
French outlying sentries, and a little in their rear, on a 
slight eminence, their camp ground, which they had very 
beautifully built over with ranges of huts. 

About three or four miles to our left, and divided from 



A SOLDIER. 51 

us by the Rio Mayor, rose the pretty town of Santarem ; 
its towers and steeples peering up from the summit of a 
hill, studded on all sides with groves of olive-trees. The 
prospect from it must have been very " soul- stirring," as 
the two armies lay within shell range, although they never 
interfered with each other for the whole of the four or five 
months that we were there ; during this time we were 
flanked on the left and right by the 43rd and 52nd regi- 
ments, and enjoyed the most uninterrupted repose, almost 
our sole employment being to watch the French move- 
ments. 

Some of the men, for want of better pastime, succeeded 
in constructing a still, with which they managed to make 
spirits from a quantity of dried grapes, found in the old 
wine-house ; a discovery, however, soon took place, much 
to our chagrin, and the still was destroyed by our old 
Captain, Peter O'liare. 

The sanguinary nature of the Portuguese during the 
whole period of the war was notorious. When crossed or 
excited, nothing but the shedding of blood could allay their 
passion. It was always with the greatest difficulty that we 
could preserve our French prisoners from being butchered 
by them even in cold blood. They would hang upon the 
rear of a detachment with prisoners like so many carrion 
birds, waiting every opportunity to satiate their love of 
vengeance ; and it required all the firmness and vigilance 
of our troops to keep them in check. It was well known 
that even our men fell in stepping between them and the 
French, whom they had marked out as victims. Indeed it 
was not unfrequent for our own men to suffer from the 
consequences of their ferocity, and I myself, while at 
Yallee, had a narrow escape. I had crossed the hills to 
purchase some necessaries at the quarters of the 52nd 
regiment, and on my return fell in with several of the 
soldiers of the 3rd Cacadores ; one of them, a fierce-looking 
scoundrel, evinced a great inclination to quarrel, the more 
particularly as he perceived that I was unarmed and alone. 
Having replied rather sharply to some abuse they had cast 
upon the English, by reflecting on their countrymen in 
return, he flew into a rage, drew his bayonet, and made a 

e 2 



52 ADVENTURES OF 

rush at me, which I avoided by stepping aside, and trip- 
ping him head foremost on the ground ; I was in the act 
of seizing his bayonet, when a number of his comrades 
came up, to whom he related, in exaggerated terms, the 
cause of our disagreement. Before he had half concluded, 
a general cry arose of " kill the English dog," and the 
whole drawing their bayonets, were advancing upon me 
when a party of the 52nd came up, the tables were turned, 
and the Cacadores fled in all directions. 

Among other laughable circumstances that made the 
time pass gaily while we remained here, was a ghost story, 
in which Tom Crawley cut rather a conspicuous figure. 
"We had accoutred ourselves, as was our custom before 
laying down for the night's repose, when in rushed Tom 
Crawley like a distracted man. 

" Bring me some salt and water for the love of God, 
boys !" he immediately demanded ; " I have seen a 
ghost." 

"What sort of ghost, Crawley?" sung out a dozen 
voices from the men, who immediately became alive to the 
fun. 

" Oh, a Portuguese ghost, as sure as the Lord," replied 
Crawley. " Give me a little water with some salt in it." 

This salt, I must explain to the uninitiated, according to 
a vulgar superstition in Ireland, is absolutely necessary to 
be drunk by those who have seen a phantom before seeing 
a light, as a neglect of the precaution was sure to be fol- 
lowed by an evil influence. As soon, therefore, as a tin 
measure was brought to the agitated Tom, (not filled, 
indeed, with salt and water, but, I am sorry to say, a much 
more objectionable liquid) Crawley drank it off with as 
much avidity as if his future salvation depended on it : the 
men, meanwhile, nearly convulsed with laughter at Tom's 
credulity. 

At length, something like silence being restored, Crawley 
took a seat, at the same time making many wry faces (that 
were sufficiently accounted for by the potion he had swal- 
lowed.) He then told us, in a very solemn manner, that he 
had distinctly seen the semblance of a Cacadore in Colonel 
Eldar's regiment, the 3rd Cacadores, who used to sell our 



A SOLDIER. 53 

men rum on the retreat from Almeida, and who was after- 
wards killed at the battle of Busaco. 

" But did you not speak to it ?" inquired Jack 
Murphy. 

" You know I can't talk Portuguese, 55 replied Crawley. 

" A ghost can talk any language ; he would have 
spoken English to you if you had talked to him," ob- 
served another. 

"But I was in too great a fright to talk at all to him till 
he vanished away among the trees." 

Poor Tom Crawley ! His ghost story afforded us ample 
amusement for many weeks afterwards, although I re- 
member it caused his grog to be stopped, for having woke 
the Captain of our company in an adjoining room by the 
noise he had occasioned by his spiritual narration. 

There is nothing, not even flogging, damps the spirit of 
a service- soldier more than stoppkig his grog, particularly 
a man of Crawley's temperament, for like his renowned 
prototype (Nautical Jack), if he were allowed three wishes, 
the first would be all the rum in the world, the second all 
the tobacco, and the third would be for more rum. 
During our stay here, the commissary had ovens made, 
and a number of our men employed baking bread, some- 
thing after the fashion of our quartern loaf, one of which 
was allowed each man every four days. One day while the 
company was being served out with rations of salt beef and 
a hot four-pound loaf, and the commissary was busy in 
serving out rum from a barrel turned on the end, with the 
head knocked in, while the quarter-magrter was calling over 
the name of each man, when Crawley's name was called — 
stopped by order of Captain O'Hare, was the answer. Had 
sentence of death been pronounced, it could not have 
sounded more harsh ; but Tom had a little philosophy. 
This trial put it to the test, for while he kept peeping over 
the men's shoulders, anxiously watching each man receive 
his portion of rum, I also observed him poking his thumb 
into different parts of the hot loaf, while he gradually 
kept edging himself through the men, until he got close to 
the rum barrel, and quietly putting his loaf under his arm, 



54 ADVENTURES OF 

remained stationary, until the commissary turned round 
to speak to one of the men, when raising his arm in flopped 
the loaf into the rum-barrel, while he lustily began 
damning the awkward fellows who pushed, and caused the 
accident, no doubt wishing the loaf to remain soaking in 
the barrel as long as possible ; but seeing the commissary 
about taking the bread out, he instantly dived his arm into 
the barrel, shoving the loaf to the bottom, then drawing it 
out dripping, as well as his coat- sleeve, and looking the 
commissary seriotfely in the face, begun cursing his mis- 
fortune, saying : " Faith, Sir, I'll have a hot meal for the 
next four days, anyhow ; if salt junk and hot rum don't 
blister a poor devil's guts, I don't know what will." The 
good-natured commissary, who looked on the whole as a 
pure accident, handed Tom an extra half loaf, which he 
instantly squeezed against the wet one, lest a drop of the 
precious liquor should fall to the ground, and walked away s 
humming as he went : 

" Oh, love is the soul of a neat Irishman," &c 

About this period we had a regiment of Brunswickers 
sent to join our division, and one of our least amusing 
duties soon consisted in watching them, to prevent their 
deserting to the enemy. It was the prevalence of this 
honourable propensity among them, I believe, that induced 
Lord Wellington to distribute their force among the dif- 
ferent divisions of the army. These " death and glory 
men," as we used to term them, from their badge of the 
skull and cross-bones which was worn on their shakos and 
accoutrements, were dressed in dark green, which but too 
frequently enabled them to steal past our guards and join 
the French, with whom many of their connexions were. 
Among other attributes with which these allies were gifted, 
was a canine appetite, that induced them to kill and eat all 
the dogs they could privately lay hold of. By this means 
the different dogs of the division disappeared before the 
Germans with a celerity truly astonishing, and we were in 
ignorance of their fate until the fact became openly pro- 



A SOLDIER. 55 

claimed and acknowledged. Among other animals thus 
"potted for consumption" was a dog which, from its 
having attached itself to our regiment, we had christened 
"Rifle." Rifle could never he induced to leave us, and 
upon one or two occasions when we had lost it, had always 
managed to rejoin us again. We used often to joke among 
ourselves at Rifle's antipathy to a red coat, and his decided 
preference to green ; but although, poor fellow ! he had 
survived many of our skirmishes, in which he used to run 
about barking and expressing his delight as much as a dog 
could, it was only, after all, to be devoured by the insati- 
able jaws of the Bruns wickers. 

"We had in the company a sergeant of the name of Flem- 
ing, a tall athletic brave fellow, from the Lake of Killarney. 
One night being posted in picquet, he unluckily came in 
collision with one of the Brunswick officers, and suspecting 
his intentions to bolt to the enemy, knocked him down 
with his rifle and otherwise maltreated him. The result 
was, that Fleming was tried by a brigade court-martial, 
convicted for the assault, and sentenced to be reduced to 
the ranks, and to receive a corporal punishment of fiye 
hundred lashes. This put us all on the alert, and the 
officers also, by whom he was very much liked. The 
division being formed, by order of General Crauford, the 
prisoner was brought to the centre of the square, and the 
minutes of the court-martial read aloud, Fleming pro- 
ceeded to strip, while the men stood attentively yet sullenly 
awaiting the result. The General now addressed him, 
saying : 

"Prisoner Fleming, the offence which you have been 
guilty of, is of so heinous a nature, that could it be proved 
to be wilfully committed, it would be most unpardonable ; 
but the excellent character for gallantry and honourable 
conduct, given of you by your officers, is such that I take 
the responsibility on myself, relying on the plea made by 
you. I shall not flog you, therefore, but your stripes will 
be cut off, and I trust your future conduct will testify that 
the discretion I now use, is not misplaced ; and I here," 
proceeded the General, turning round to the division, 



DO ADVENTURES OF 

" take the opportunity of declaring, that if any of those 
gentlemen (meaning the Brunswickers,) have a wish to go 
over to the enemy, let them express it, and I give my word 
of honour I will grant them a pass to that effect instantly, 
for we are better without such." 

Fleming was shortly afterwards reinstated, but, poor 
fellow ! he was destined to an early though a more honour- 
able fate, and fell leading on the ladder party, in the forlorn 
hope at Badajoz. 

All this time, and for a great part of that in which we 
were quartered here, a very friendly intercourse was carried 
on between the French and ourselves. We frequently met 
them bathing in the Rio Mayor, and would as often have 
swimming and even jumping matches. In these games, 
however, we mostly beat them, but that was attributed, 
perhaps, to their half-starved, distressed condition. This 
our stolen intercourses soon made us more awake to, until 
at length, touched with pity, our men went so far as to 
share with them the ration biscuits, which we were occa- 
sionally supplied with from England, by our shipping ; 
indeed we buried all national hostility in our anxiety to 
assist and relieve them. Tobacco was in great request ; we 
used to carry some of ours to them, while they in return 
would bring us a little brandy. Their "reveille" was our 
summons as well as theirs, and although our old captain 
seldom troubled us to fall in at the ' - reveille," it was not 
unusual to find the rear of our army under arms, and, per- 
haps, expecting an attack. But the captain knew his cus- 
tomers, for though playful as lambs, we were watchful as 
leopards. 

It will not be amiss, perhaps, if I give the reader an idea 
of the resources and intrinsic position of the two armies, 
thus contending on a soil to which both were aliens. It 
will be necessary to enter a little into the holds either party 
had on the opinions of the inhabitants. 

The French, it must be recollected, were fighting for the 
usurpation — if it may be so termed — of the Spanish throne 
by Joseph Bonaparte, and had to contend with all the ele- 
ments that composed and monopolized the prejudices of 



A SOLDIER. 5/ 

the Spanish and Portuguese people. The whole war was 
one between innovation, and long and deeply rooted pre- 
judice ; and the French troops, consequently, were on all 
occasions, nightly and daily, not only open to attacks from 
the British, but in constant alarm from the natives, whose 
animosity made them alive to the slightest opportunity 
that presented itself for doing them mischief. 

No Frenchman, however fatigued, dared to straggle or 
fall back : it was instant death to him. The guerillas and 
peasantry watched with the thirst of wolves, and slaughtered 
all who fell into their hands. These dangers were, also, 
doubly increased by the absence of uniforms amongst the 
Spaniards, who, up to this time, wore their own peasant 
dresses. This disabled the French from recognizing either 
friends or foes. In addition to these, they had another of 
greater magnitude than any, their provision and ammuni- 
tion resources depended entirely on their communication 
with France — separated from them by the Pyrenees, and 
long distances from the scene of contention itself; this 
made their supplies exceedingly precarious, and but for the 
contributions levied by the French generals on the inha- 
bitants, would have kept them oft-times pendant 'twixt 
hunger and the bayonets of their enemies. 

The priesthood, also, numbers of whom were of the 
French church, had to return many obligations to their 
revolutionary opponents, such as their banishment, whole- 
sale, from their " snuggeries" during the year of terror ; 
these, therefore, sided always with the Spaniards, and by 
their influence, combined with the Spanish inquisitorial 
clergy, gave a colour and energy to the cause we had 
engaged in. 

Our case was, consequently, widely different as the quiet 
imprisonment of our disorderly comrade before- mentioned 
fully proved ; we were received, also, everywhere with 
open arms, and were well backed, if not by the courage, by 
their best provision resources. We could, with safety, 
leave whole hospitals behind us, whilst the sick and 
wounded of our opponents, the French, were, in many 
instances, slaughtered wholesale by the citizens. 

But with all these advantages in our favour, we yet, as 



58 ADVENTURES OF 

it were, lay between two stools. The natives were not to 
be relied on, and though drawn up with us on most occa- 
sions, generally left the British to bear the brunt of 
action. Thus often and too truly showing that a weak 
friend is frequently more dangerous than a determined 
enemy. 



CHAPTER IX. 

General Crauford leaves for England — Sir William Erskine takes the command 
— Mounseer Strauss — We enter Santarem — Scenes of horror — Mile posts of 
the "grande armee" — Retaliations of the Portuguese — Two upon one — 
Pombal — Smart work — German gallantry — Auction — A new division — 
Redinha — An accident — Long Tom of Lincoln — The deserter — A return of 
favours. 

In the month of February, General Crauford went to 
England on leave, and the command of the light division, 
during his absence, devolved upon Major- General Sir 
William Erskine. 

On the night of the 5th of March we were suddenly 
ordered to fall in, as intelligence had reached us that 
the French were evacuating Santarem. This was soon 
ascertained to be the fact, and we immediately commenced 
an advance, crossing the bridge in our front at three o'clock 
on the morning of the 6 th. 

Ours being the senior captain of the regiment, the com- 
pany, as was usual, were in the advance, when some of the 
front files suddenly came within a few yards of what 
appeared to be a French sentinel, leaning against a wall 
that ran along from the bridge. One of our fellows fired, 
but perceiving no movement made, we all rushed up, 
and discovered him to be, what our money-changers at 
home have so great a horror of, " a man of straw," or 
a piece of sacking stuffed and accoutred. This afforded 
a fit theme for joking, as we carried our "prisoner" with 
us until we came to Santarem. 

Our march was uninterrupted, and over a bold thickly 
wooded country, much cut up, however, by the retreating 
enemy ; about mid-day we entered Santarem, where a 



A SOLDIER. 59 

sight of a most horrifying description offered itself. The 
streets and houses presented a mass of desolation and filth, 
which, in some degree, contaminated the air around, while 
to add to the picture, numbers of half-starved looking 
Frenchmen were grouped about in knots, and exhibiting 
the loathsome appearance of disease. The faces of many 
of these poor fellows were dreadfully swollen and white. 
Our men were moved to pity at the scene, and threw them 
biscuits as we passed trough the town. 

Massena had not the means of conveyance for the whole 
of his sick, and bad been obliged to leave these to their 
fate. This, indeed, would have been soon decided had the 
Portuguese first come up with them. 

At every mile the enemy, on their retreat, had fixed 
finger posts with directions to the road the " grande 
armee " had taken, they sufficiently directed us also. But 
after all, these were of little service, for straggling groups 
of the unfortunate enemy strewed the road as we advanced 
over it. The poor fellows, at first, would greet the English 
with a faint hope of protection, and turned up their swollen 
and pallid countenances to us with expressions that needed 
not words to explain them. But we were obliged to pass 
on and leave them, for aught I know, to be butchered 
by the inhabitants, who fearfully retaliated for all the scenes 
we had witnessed. At night we encamped on the outskirts 
of a small village, the name I do not recollect, but the 
sights within it I never can forget. 

In searching for a stream from which I might procure 
water, I fell upon a small fountain, close to which lay two 
or three murdered Portuguese ; their brains and blood, 
which seemed freshly to have oozed from their mangled 
remains, had even streamed into the spring, and turned me 
away with disgust from the water. Proceeding onward, I 
observed a gaunt ghastly figure in a cloak stealing towards 
a group of cadaverous looking Frenchmen — on his getting 
a little nearer to them, he suddenly spat in his hands and 
throwing his cloak aside, produced a heavy club, with 
which, I suppose, he was going to beat their brains out. 
Struck with horror, I instantly seized the stick from his 
half-famished grasp, drove him away, and assisted by one 



60 ADVENTURES OF 

or two comrades got the poor men into a house, and 
pursued my search. 

As I, however, approached into the Plaza, the desolation 
thickened ; all the havoc that can possibly he imagined in 
so small a compass lay before me — murdered and violated 
women — shrieking and dying children — and, indeed, all 
that had possessed life in the village, lay quivering in the 
last agony of slaughter and awful vengeance. 

These became every- day scenes until we overtook the 
French rear-guard at Pombal, which we did on the 
11th, my company had been hurried forward by the 
cavalry, each dragoon mounting a rifleman behind him 
on his horse — a method of riding peculiarly galling to 
the infantry, but which we frequently had to experience 
during the war. From the friction alone produced on the 
legs and seat by the dragoon's saddle-bags, it was some 
time before the foot-soldier, when placed upon his legs, 
could move with anything like dispatch. Besides, this 
method of riding was generally attended by the loss of the 
men's mess-tins, which became shaken off by the jolting. 
There were, indeed, few of our men who would not have 
preferred marching twice the distance on foot to being 
thus carried.* 

We first got sight of the enemy about two miles from 
the town of Pombal. They had possession of a wood, from 
which, however, we soon managed to drive them. They 
retired in great disorder in the direction of the town. The 
long straight road that led to Pombal became filled for 
some hundred yards, with the confused masses of the 
French ; but their distress was still further increased 
by the arrival of Brigade- Major Mellish, who came up, 
at the time, with a couple of Ross's guns, and commenced 
playing upon them. It soon became a complete rout with 
the enemy, and they pressed pell-mell over the bridge 
of the river between us and the town. They suffered con- 

* With regard to knapsacks, of which so much has been spoken, I cannot see 
why they could not be carried by the quarter-master or commissariat, and given 
out with the same ease as the rations. This I apply only to the rifles and otber 
light troops, who, being always exposed and in advance, have need of all their 
energies and activity to render them fully effective. 



A SOLDIER. 61 

siderably in this business — the ground was strewed with 
their dead, and as we followed we found several poor 
fellows at the bridge badly wounded by the rifles, and 
many dissevered legs and arms, the latter, no doubt, 
caused by Ross's two pieces. 

It was during the preceding skirmish that, for the 
first time, I heard the words that afterwards became 
so common in our regiment, " kill a Frenchman for your- 
self/ 5 Its origin was as follows : Two men of known 
daring, named Palmer and Tracey, during our approach 
to the bridge, seeing a French sergeant fall, ran up to 
claim the meed of conquest, by relieving him of any valu- 
ables he might be possessed of. They were quarrelling as 
to the appropriation of the spoil, when Palmer, who was 
a known excellent shot, told Tracey to go " and kill a 
Frenchman for himself," as he had shot this man. 

This circumstance afterwards gave birth to a little 
gasconade in the regiment, that every rifleman could and 
ought to kill a Frenchman in action. From the period of 
the above occurrence, Palmer received the nick-name of 
the " man-killer," until a singular circumstance, that 
occurred at the siege of Badajoz, gave him a new title. 
In relieving picquet in the trenches, many of our men, 
instead of going quietly through the trenches or parallels 
in front of the walls of the town, used to show their 
contempt of danger by jumping out of them and running 
across in the face of the enemy's fire. In executing this 
feat one day with some others, a cannon-shot fired by 
the French, struck the ground first, and then hit Palmer 
on the back, and he fell, as we thought, killed upon 
the spot. To our surprise, however, in a moment he 
jumped up unhurt, the ball having glanced off his knap- 
sack. In commemoration of this event, he was afterwards 
known by the appellation of " the bomb proof man." 

It must be borne in mind, that my own company only 
were present here, and we had to sustain, at a great dis- 
advantage, a smart fire from the different houses, occupied 
by the rear-guard of the enemy. As soon as we crossed 
the bridge we took possession of the houses opposite those 
held by the French, from which we kept up a brisk fire out 



62 ADVENTURES OF 

of the windows. Tired however, with this cross work 3 
several of our men dashed into one of the French holds and 
found it crowded with the enemy, who to the number 
of thirty or forty quietly surrendered themselves prisoners. 
I recollect Sergeant Fleming, who was the first to mount 
the stairs, bundling them neck and crop over the staircase. 
Lieutenant Hopwood, however, fell severely wounded in 
the thigh on entering the house. We maintained the 
conflict until the remainder of the regiment came up 3 
and then drove the enemy entirely out of their cover. 

In the eagerness of pursuit, however, we had suffered 
severely : as our men followed the enemy a considerable 
distance out of the town, galling them terribly in the 
street, when perceiving how few our numbers were, being 
supported by a single troop only of our German Hussars, 
they turned round and made it a hard matter for us to 
escape the consequences of our temerity. Several of the 
men were out- flanked, and taken prisoners, and for myself, 
I had to run a great risk, and should certainly have been 
killed or captured, but for the gallantry of a German 
dragoon, who riding up, dragged me behind him, and 
galloped away amidst a volley of shots, unhurt. 

At night, the French, who had posted themselves partly 
under cover of a wood, threw shells into the town of 
Pombal, of which we had possession, and succeeded in 
setting it on fire in several places. We nevertheless 
remained for the night, and sold by auction among the 
officers and men some baggage which we had taken, snugly 
packed on a grey horse, from one of their Generals ; among 
other valuables it contained, were two beautiful gold medals, 
which we presented to our old Captain ; we divided the 
proceeds, which amounted to six dollars to each man of the 
company. 

In the morning, the French continued their retreat, and 
we were again in pursuit. After crossing a well wooded 
hill, we came up with them at Redinha, a small town situ- 
ated in the hollow of rather a difficult pass, — the company 
ascending a hill covered with pine-trees, on the right of our 
battalion. 

From its eminence, I remember to have seen one of 



A SOLDIER. 63 

the finest views of the two armies I ever witnessed. The 
rifles were extended in the distance for perhaps two miles, 
and rapidly on the advance to the enemy's position. These 
were followed by our heavy columns, whose heads were 
just emerging from a wood about a quarter of a mile in our 
rear. Everything seemed conducted with the order and 
regularity of a field day. Meanwhile the rear columns 
of the French were slowly retiring, but in a few minutes 
the scene became exceedingly animated by our artillery 
opening their fire upon the retreating forces. 

This was the signal for us to set to work. We instantly 
moved down from our lofty station, and were soon engaged 
skirmishing end endeavouring to out-flank and drive 
in their light troops, which, after a hard struggle, we at 
length accomplished, but not before many men had fallen 
on both sides. The enemy, however, although they slowly 
retired, continually turned, making temporary stands, 
whenever the ground seemed favourable. 

One affecting circumstance that took place in this action, 
made a deep impression on my memory. A French officer 
whom we had observed very conspicuously cheering on his 
men, had fallen by a rifle-shot through the thigh, when 
two of our buglers ran forward for the purpose of easing 
him of his money. This, I must observe, the French gene- 
rally kept concealed in a kind of belt round their waists. 
As soon, therefore, as the buglers came up to him, they 
commenced quarrelling as to which of them should possess 
his property. The more readily to disencumber him of 
his belt, each of them had fallen on his knees over the 
poor Frenchman, and one of the buglers had drawn a knife 
to cut the strap that secured the hoped-for treasure, when 
the other endeavouring to restrain him brought on a scuffle, 
during which, I am sorry to relate, the knife entered the 
body of the wounded man, and he expired on the spot. I 
had arrived just in time to perceive the occurrence, and 
could with difficulty restrain myself from shooting the 
owner of the knife on the spot, until he told me it was 
purely accidental. 

After pursuing the enemy through the town, where we 
took a number of prisoners (among whom were some of 



64 ADVENTURES OF 

my own company, taken the day before) in a water-mill, 
we encamped at night on the side of an extensive hill. The 
country, here also, was well wooded and watered, and 
exceedingly picturesque, as was also the position occupied 
by the enemy. We were encamped on a range of heights, 
while the French lay below in a beautiful valley ; the out- 
lying sentries of both armies being not more than two 
hundred yards apart. 

This night our company, with Captain Belvard's, formed 
the outlying picquet. As we had had no rations for two 
days previous, we were soon busily employed in cooking 
what we had taken from the prisoners ; during this cere- 
mony, a man of the name of Humphrey x\llen, a tall 
powerful fellow, whom we had also nick-named " Long Tom 
of Lincoln," came up from the rear, where, during the pre- 
ceding skirmish, he had been employed taking the wounded. 
On asking to be allowed to join one of the messes, he was 
immediately refused, on account of his having gone out of 
action with the wounded, when the care of them devolved 
upon the buglers or bandsmen alone. This, I must remark, 
was at first a common excuse for getting from under fire, 
and soon became marked with indignation by the braver 
men ; at length, during the latter part of the campaign, no 
good soldier would venture, under so frivolous a pretence, 
so to expose himself to the indignation of his comrades, 
excepting for any very extreme cases. In the preceding 
instance, however, Allen proved himself more daring than 
humane. 

Taking up his rifle, very coolly observing that he would 
soon get something to eat if a Frenchman had it : walked 
quietly down to our outlying picquets, and taking deliberate 
aim, shot one of the French sentries on the spot : in an 
instant he was across the field to where he fell, and having 
hoisted him on his shoulders, was in the act of bearing 
him back to our line, which the French perceiving, not only 
fired, but pursued him, and compelled him to drop his 
prize. 

A general alarm, meanwhile, was occasioned by this 
firing, and before it could be checked, Colonel Beckwith 
came down, and having traced its origin, sent for Allen. 



A SOLDIER. 65 

« Why, Zur," replied Tom, to the inquiry of the Colonel 
u I arn't had nought to eat these two days, and thought as 
how I might find summutin the Frencher's knapsack." 

Although he had been guilty of a cruelty which no law 
of arms could justify, he managed to escape with a severe 
reprimand.* 

In the course of an hour after, being on sentry at our 
advance posts, I was leisurely sauntering up and down, 
occasionally looking about me, and stooping to cull some 
flowers that grew in the field which divided us from the 
enemy. It was just at the close of the evening, or between 
the lights. The French sentry, who advanced occasionally 
seemingly for the same purpose, at last came so near, that I 
feared he w r as up to some manoeuvre, or about to fire at 
me ; with this, I instantly cocked my rifle, and was await- 
ing his approach, when he suddenly rushed towards me, 
bellowing out in French, " Deserteur ! Deserteur !" Of 
course at the words I allowed him to approach, which he 
did, exclaiming, " Je suis allemand," and instantly turning 
on his quondam comrades, fired into them. The report of 
his fire caused the picquets of both parties to fall in, and 
the whole line of sentries again to be engaged. However, 
he stuck by me all the time, shaking his fist at them, and 
loading and firing with all the jaw-breaking oaths that the 
French and his native German could supply him with. 

Colonel Beckwith, a second time alarmed, was soon 
amongst us swearing also, at what he supposed to be 
another Lincoln job, but he returned rather pleased, chat- 
ting to the deserter. 

* Any of my readers passing through Knightsbridge, may chance to observe a 
tall military figure, bent with years, a bag thrown over his shoulders, stooping to 
pick up bones, &c, this person is no other than the once redoubtable Hum- 
phrey Allen, at that time one of the smartest and finest-looking men in our 
Rifles. 



66 ADVENTURES OP 



CHAPTER X. 

Our march upon Condeixa— Tom Crawley again — Hot and cold — Affair of Casal 
Nova — Death of Major Stewart — The French continue retreating — The two 
brothers — Night scene — The French continue their havoc — The Ca9adore — 
The pet goat — Lord Wellington again — Our old Colonel — The promise of the 
Staff — The Recruits — British enthusiasm inspired — The two French prisoners 
— Particulars of Massena's retreat and state of his troops — St. Patricks Day — 
If I had a donkey — The river Caira — Our distressing privations — O'Brien and 
the old Patrone — Arrival at Friexedas — Adjutant Stewart killed — Sabugal — 
Carrying of the enemy's position— Encomiums of our Colonel — Death of 
Lieut. Arbuthnot — Disagreeable bed-fellow — A light on the subject — Evacua- 
tion of Portugal by the French, Almeida excepted — The British follow into 
Spain — Arrival at Gallegos — The enemy active in Rodrigo — The skulker — Poor 
Burke — Expedition and disappointment in search of a convoy. 

The French got under arms before the dawn of the 
morning, and we as usual followed, keeping them well on 
before us. 

In the course of the noon we passed through the pretty 
little town of Condeixa, which the enemy had fired in 
several places. The main street was completely blocked 
by the flames darting across the road from the opposite 
houses. To enable the troops to pass, we were obliged to 
iC break" a way through some dry walls. This caused a 
temporary halt, during which the chief part of the divi- 
sion gallantly employed themselves extricating the unfor- 
tunate inhabitants, from the burning houses. Tom 
Crawley (forgetful of the coach) made use of his great 
strength to some purpose, and chucked some five or six 
old people, whom he had brought forth on his shoulders, 
over a wall as he supposed, out of immediate danger. 
Tom, however, who should have "looked," before he 
made the old ones "leap," was not aware that close to 
their descent was a large well, into which, to their great 
terror, he had very nearly dropped the terrified and screech- 
ing sufferers. 

Having cleared the houses " a way," we proceeded to 
Casal Nova, where we came up with the incendiaries, 
whom we found perfectly prepared to receive us. The 
country all about was greatly intercepted by old walls, 



A SOLDIER, 87 

and afforded excellent facilities for skirmishing. In a few 
seconds some of our division was observed moving upon 
our right, and we were ordered instantly to extend, and at 
it we went. After several hours' hard fighting, kept up 
with great spirit on both sides, we compelled the enemy to 
retire, but not before we had lost an excellent officer in 
the person of Major Stewart, who received a shot through 
the body, He was led by two buglers to the rear, where 
he died shortly after. The death of this officer gave a 
step to my old Captain O' Hare, who obtained the majority. 

In this skirmish Lieutenant Stroud also received a severe 
wound. This officer in action, always carried a rifle, for 
the skilful use of which he was celebrated.* A man of 
our company named Pat Mahon, received three balls on 
the hip at the same instant, and so close together that a 
dollar might have covered the three holes they made. 

The enemy still continued the retreat, their skirmishers, 
at times, making short stands to keep our rifles in check, 
and a few of their rear sections occasionally pouring a run- 
ning fire into us. We drove them, however, through the 
village of Casal Nova. Some of the French for a few 
minutes here availed themselves of pieces of dilapidated 
walls, but as soon as we commenced outflanking them, they 
all retreated, with the exception of one man, who, to our 
surprise, remained loading and firing as if he had a whole 
division to back him. I scarcely know what could have 
induced me to fire at this poor fellow alone, and exposed as 
he was to at least twenty other shots ; but my blood was 
up, through his having once aimed at me, his ball whizzing 
close by as I approached. Be that as it may, I had got 
within fifty yards when I fired. In an instant I was 
beside him, the shot had entered his head, and he had fallen 

* I have often felt surprised that our officers have not generally adopted the 
plan of carrying a rifle when in action ; the defence it would afford to the indi- 
vidual himself in its superiority over the sword or the pistol, which latter are 
mere toys in the field, would, I imagine, bear its own argument. The addi- 
tional strength also it must give to the efficiency of the regiments generally, 
from the number it would add to each volley (in the proportion of fifty to a 
regiment), and the confidence it must inspire in the officers, would, one should 
think, carry everything before it, nor can it prevent any officer in keeping his eye 
on his men, as all riflemen, while in action, use their own judgment by getting 
under cover, consequently out of sight. 

F 2 



68 ADVENTURES OF 

in the act of loading, the fusil tightly grasped in his left 
hand, while his right clutched the ramrod. A few quick 
turns of the eye as it rolled its dying glances on mine, 
turned my whole blood within me, and I reproached myself 
as his destroyer. An indescribable uneasiness came over 
me, I felt almost like a criminal. I knelt to give him a 
little wine from a small calabash, which hung at my side, 
and was wiping the foam from his lips, when a heavy 
groan drew my attention aside, and turning round my 
head I beheld stretched near him and close to the 
wall, another wounded Frenchman, a sergeant. " Helas," 
exclaimed the wounded man, the big tears suddenly 
gushing down his sun-burnt countenance, as he pointed 
with his ringer to my victim, "vous avez tue mon 
pauvre frere," (you have killed my poor brother,) and 
indeed such was the melancholy fact. 
, The sergeant, a stout heavy man, had fallen, his thigh 
broken by a shot. The younger brother, unable to carry 
him off the field, had remained, apparently with the inten- 
tion of perishing by his side. 

We halted for the night on an adjacent hill, about a 
mile in advance. The French also took up their position 
opposite us. The picquets of both armies occupied a beau- 
tiful ravine, that sloped between us. I took advantage of 
the few moments' leisure our position afforded to return to 
the French sergeant. But I found him and his brother 
both as naked as they were born, perforated with innumer- 
able wounds, no doubt administered by the Portuguese. I 
turned back to the camp, but in a very poor humour with 
myself, though I could not well close my eyes to the 
magnificent scene around me. The sun had set, its light 
had been supplanted by burning villages, and fires that on 
vale and mountain correctly pointed out where the hostile 
divisions were extended. 

The following morning, the French continued their 
march of havoc, and we closed after them, village after 
village giving flaming proofs of their continued atrocities. 
Passing through one which had been fired, by reason, as 
we were informed, of its having been the quarters of 
Marshal Ney and staff,— an appalling instance of ven-' 



A SOLDIER. 69 

geance here occurred. The parents of one of our 
Cacadores had lived in this village, and immediately 
we entered, he rushed to the house where they resided. 
On reaching the doorway, the soldier hesitated a few 
seconds, hut the door was open, and stretched across 
the threshold he beheld the mangled bodies of his 
father and mother, the blood still warm and reeking 
through the bayonet stabs, while an only sister lay breath- 
ing her last, and exhibiting dreadful proofs of the brutality 
with which she had been violated. The unhappy man 
staggered, frenzied with grief, and stared wildly around 
him ; till suddenly burying all other feelings in the mad- 
dening passion of revenge, he rushed forth from what had 
probably been once a happy home. His first act was to 
dash at some French prisoners that unfortunately were 
near the spot, guarded by some of our dragoons. These 
he attacked with the fury of a madman. One he shot and 
another he wounded, and he would have sacrificed a third, 
had not the guard made him prisoner. On the circum- 
stances being made known to the General, he was libe- 
rated. 

Outside the village, and on a gentle slope, we came to 
the enemy's camp ground, which they had been obliged to 
quit so precipitately as to have left their fires lighted. We 
noticed a goat, which, by its frisking and jumping about, I 
supposed to have been a pet of some French officer. When- 
ever we went near, it would step aside, until some of the 
men levelled their rifles and shot it ; swords were out in a 
moment, and the little animal, skin and all, dissected. 
I was just apportioning the hind quarter, when who 
should ride near, but Lord Wellington and staff; for 
a while I felt as if the noose were already round my 
neck, until the Colonel coming up, re-established my 
serenity, and congratulated us on our lucky chance ; 
for this kindness we shared our booty with him that 
same night. 

We had suffered dreadfully throughout the previous 
week ; many of our men from weakness, and through want 
of rations, having been unable to keep up with their regi- 
ments, Colonel Beckwith, in the hearing of many of us, 



70 ADVENTURES OF 

took this opportunity of making it known to the Com- 
mander-in-chief, who immediately promised we should 
have the first rations that came up. We then marched to 
some high ground, from whence we could distinctly see the 
French camp at a place called Foz d'Aouce, their fires, 
lighted preparatory to passing the night there. It was 
determined, however, that they should not enjoy it so 
easily. Our battalion was instantly ordered to the attack, 
before proceeding to which, I will introduce to my readers 
a squad of "gentlemen," who joined us a few evenings pre- 
ceding. We had been reinforced by a fresh batch of 
recruits from England, a number of whom had been drafted 
into our company. These fellows' rosy cheeks and plump 
appearance, with their new dresses, formed a bright relief 
and amusing contrast to our fierce embrowned visages, 
covered with whisker and mustachio, as we then were, and 
our clothing patched and of all colours. As these new- 
comers were now about to go through the ordeal of fire, for 
the first time in their lives, Major O'Hare thought proper 
to say a few words by way of advice to them, on so 
momentous an occasion ; accordingly, he gave the com- 
mand, " Recruits to the front." 

Some ten or twelve immediately stepped forward, won- 
dering, no doubt, what they were wanted for. " Do you 
see those men on that plain ?" asked the Major, as he 
pointed to the French camp. On several of the men 
answering "Ees, Zur !" Major O'Hare, with a dry laugh, 
continued, "Well then, those are the French, and our ene- 
mies. You must kill those fellows, and not allow them to 
kill you. You must learn and do as these old birds here 
do," pointing to us, " and get cover where you can. Re- 
collect, recruits, you come here to kill, and not be killed. 
Bear this in mind : if you don't kill the French they'll 
kill you." — " Ees, Zur !" said they again. 

The Major's logic, although it elicited roars of laughter 
from the old soldiers, I believe had more effect with the 
recruits than if Demosthenes had risen for the purpose. 
Immediately after this out went our muzzle stoppers, and 
sallying down the slope on which we had been drawn up, 
at the enemy we went. Our battalion was soon hotly 



A SOLDIER. 71 

engaged, assisted by some light companies of the guards, 
belonging to the first division. The night was fast setting 
in, but we soon succeeded in beating the enemy out of their 
camp ground, and we dashed at them as they retired crowd- 
ing with precipitation over a bridge which crossed the 
river in their rear. Before tw r o-thirds of their force had 
accomplished this, the bridge, by some irregularity, was 
blown up, and great numbers also were drowned in attempt- 
ing to ford the stream. 

At their camp ground many of our men came in for a bit 
of a wind-fall, as the French, in their hurry to place the 
river between us and them, had left their meat and pots on 
1he fires. This afforded a happy regale to some of our 
infortunate hungry stomachs, the more especially as the 
food thus come by, was eaten with a sense of having been 
farly earned. 

During the foregoing skirmish and while very closely 
engaged, I perceived a horse, gaily bedizened with French 
tiappings, galloping about, as though looking for an 
cwner, and I managed to catch it by the bridle. A 
minute afterwards my prize received a shot, probably 
intended for myself, but which stretched the poor animal 
dead beside me. 

The night was passed on the French camp ground. At 
:he fire round which we thronged, were two wounded 
Frenchmen ; it was a satisfaction to mark the care and 
attention which they received at the hands of our men. 
One of the prisoners, whom I found to be a very intelli- 
gent fellow, gave me interesting accounts of the state and 
proceedings of Massena's troops, which, as it much amused 
us at the period, possibly may prove equally entertaining 
to the reader. 

" At the time that Massena and his troops/' said he, 
" lay at Santarem, we had encouraged hopes of driving the 
English into Lisbon, or the sea ; but finding these unavail- 
ing, it was given up in despair, and the army prepared, at 
about the beginning of the spring of 1811, to retire back 
through the country into Spain. 

" The batteries and other works which for several months 
our men had been erecting, were destroyed, and leaving 



72 ADVENTURES OF 

behind us a great number of our sick, whom we had no 
means of conveying away, we shared the last of our provi- 
sions, amounting to about ten biscuits each man amongst 
us, and we prepared to retreat. 

" The troops were in a most distressed state, reduced to 
half their numbers almost naked and without provisions, 
for most of them consumed in a few days the whole of their 
scanty allowance. They could not expect aid from any of 
their comrades, for all were without, and the country 
around us devastated by both parties ; our wants, however, 
urged us to plunder, and we wandered in strong parties 
from the regiment, and meeting with every species of 
resistance, gave blow for blow. 

" The guerillas followed us everywhere : they fled in ths 
front and harassed us on our flanks, so that not an hour 
passed but we were obliged to be on the alert to save our 
lives ; out of this arose every cruelty which ensued, and 
made our retreat almost unparalleled for devastation anl 
bloodshed. Meanwhile the British troops came on in our 
rear, their light divisions harassing us night and day, and 
completing the wreck that never will be forgotten while 
Portugal retains its name/' 

We continued to occupy the same spot the whole of the 
following day, waiting very anxiously for the promised sup- 
ply of rations ; one day's rations, however, to our exceeding 
joy, made their appearance in the evening of the 16th. 
The following being the morning of St. Patrick's Day, 
the whole of our battalion, English and Irish, duly 
celebrated the event by a proper attention to greens, and 
not having shamrocks, leaves^ grass and boughs of trees 
were substituted: thus ornamented we commenced our 
march. 

Just before we arrived at the river Caira, the waters of 
which flowed over the body of many an unfortunate French 
soldier, we came upon a sight which was enough to make 
the "Humane Society," declare eternal war against the 
men of the wooden shoes. 

This was some two or three hundred donkeys and mules, 
which the enemy, unable to drive off, had maimed and 
hamstrung. The poor animals looked up to us as if for 



A SOLDIER. 73 

vengeance, and every mute appeal was sternly fulfilled, for 
they struck home to the feelings of us all. 

We continued our march for about two leagues, when 
the battalion halted upon a hill covered with pine-trees. 
At the bottom of this and near our advanced posts, flowed 
the river Alva, on the opposite side of which the retreating 
army lay encamped. We had halted, and refreshed our- 
selves, with the notion that we should spend the night 
there quietly, but we were doomed to be miserably unde- 
ceived, as a fresh order was given for us to fall in, the 
artillery coming up, and commenced playing on the 
enemy's masses, and our division was ordered to cross the 
river. Lord Wellington certainly was determined to allow 
the French no rest if possible, and indeed, if truth be 
added, ourselves as little. A pontoon was thrown over the 
river for the division to cross, while others forded the stream 
a little higher up on our right. The enemy retired in 
excellent order, and we pursued until both halted for the 
night. The place we occupied was a little village called 
Melo, w T here we remained during the following day, having 
had one ration only for the last four days. Never let it be 
said that John Bull cannot tight upon an empty stomach. 
If ever one division of our army proved this more than 
another, I certainly think it was the light one. Light 
enough we were at this and at other periods, Heaven 
knows. While thus impelled by hunger, myself and Wilkie 
searching about for something to devour, proceeded down a 
lane, where we came upon the body of an elderly woman. 
She was lying in the middle of the road, dressed in white, 
and, from the hands being bound together in a praying 
attitude, and the general appearance of the corpse, it was 
evident that she had been taken out for the purpose of 
burial, as it is the custom in that country to inter them in 
full dress, and without a coffin : the arrival of the French 
no doubt had obliged her attendants to abandon her. 

The reader is expecting perhaps, that we set to work 
and nibbled the old woman, but let me assure him we did 
nothing of the kind, though we thought many and many a 
time, and growled sadly that we had not provided ourselves 
with a bit from the donkeys. 



74 ADVENTURES OF 

The corpse had round its neck a set of beads with a 
gold cross at the end, which Wilkie very "piously" 
put into his pocket. 

We still, however, continued our prowling, and stumbled 
at last on a small cottage, into which we entered, in full 
hopes of having made a substantial discovery. 

An old emaciated half- starved looking hag, sat squatted 
by some extinguished embers, like the last survivor of 
a universal wreck. She was indeed the only living inhabi- 
tant we had seen in the village, and remained squatted 
by the embers, as if permitted that privilege only to 
recount her tale. The old soul continued a fixture, 
until Wilkie suspecting something, pressed her to move. 
Ci Non hai nada !" screamed the old lady, " Non hai 
nada !" (there is nothing.) 

" Oh but there is," replied my comrade; until growing 
furious, he upset the old woman from her position, and out 
rolled a loaf of bread from under her, as natural as if it had 
been an egg from under a hen. Wilkie pounced at it 
instantly, and the miserable old creature burst into tears, 
and screamed herself almost into fits. Her cries in a few 
seconds brought in her daughter, who unable to keep herself 
concealed at this agonizing appeal of her parent, rushed for- 
ward to her assistance. Never before did I see such a pitiful 
pair, both were almost cadaverous with want, and begged 
hard for the loaf. But we were all of us half starved, and 
at last, Wilkie and myself, unable to contain ourselves any 
longer, willingly shared it with them. 

We were engaged daily with the enemy until we came 
to Friexedas, on the 28th of March, on which day we lost 
our gallant adjutant, Lieutenant Stewart, who fell by 
a musket shot. 

On the 1 st of April we again came up with the enemy, 
who held possession of the town of Sabugal, where they 
seemed inclined to make a final stand. 

The town is situated partly upon a hill, with some wood- 
land interspersed about, while the rapid river Coa winds 
between it and the Lisbon side of the country. 

On the day of the 3rd an attack upon the enemy 
was commenced, by our battalions, when through some 



A SOLDIER. /5 

mistake, we were left almost unsupported ; after crossing 
the river, we advanced up the hill, on the other side, and 
under a fleecy shower of rain, soon became hotly engaged 
with the French. They were at least four or five times our 
number, and compelled us to retire twice before their over- 
whelming masses. Led on, however, by our gallant 
Colonel, we fixed swords, and came to the charge and 
drove them up the hills before us. There a strong reserve 
was prepared for our reception. A third time we were 
obliged to give ground, until our second brigade coming to 
our aid, we again dashed at them, carried the position, and 
. after a hard contest, obliged the enemy to retreat with the 
utmost precipitation, leaving behind them a howitzer, which 
had been twice taken and retaken. 

No one that day could have observed our Colonel during 
the heat of the action, and not have admired his cool and 
soldier-like bearing. " Steady, lads — show no hurry," was 
his cheering exhortation, accompanied by a smile when we 
were obliged to retreat, the blood, at the same time, flowing 
copiously from a wound he had received across his fore- 
head. Never, perhaps, in any action, did the Rifles display 
more consummate tact and resolution than in this. Lord 
Wellington was too just to pass over their services on this 
occasion, and in general orders passed a high encomium 
upon the gallantry of Colonel Beckwith, and the brigade 
under his command. We lost a fine young fellow, an 

officer, Lieutenant the Honourable ■ Arbuthnot, whose 

head was smashed by a round-shot. 

At the conclusion of the battle the rain poured clown in 
torrents, and obliged us to take such shelter as the walls 
and trees around afforded. The enemy, meanwhile, were 
in rapid retreat, and we should, in all probability, have 
continued in pursuit, but for the exhausted state of the 
men. 

While endeavouring to obtain shelter, Lord Wellington 
rode up, and knowing the chief business of the clay 
had fallen upon our brigade, he ordered us into the town. 
We arrived just in time to prevent the fifth division 
from supplanting us, and they consequently were obliged 
to retrace their steps, which they did with much grumbling 



76 ADVENTURES OF 

and discontent. It was dark before we got into the honse 
appropriated to us. Myself and one or two others turned 
into a small square room, the floor of which was covered 
with straw. Though wetted through to the skin I soon 
fell into a sound sleep, but was, however, quickly awakened 
by a hurried exclamation from a man who had just entered 
the room with a light. On looking around for the cause 
of his surprise, I beheld a stiff and naked corpse placed 
upright against the walls of the room, brutally defaced ; at 
the same moment, and in the act of turning, I placed my 
hand on the clammy features of another body, partly con- 
cealed under the straw, and across which I had actually 
been sleeping ; we found four bodies altogether, evidently 
Portuguese, and all of them bearing the usual proofs 
of French retaliation. 

The next day Massena evacuated Portugal, with the 
exception of Almeida, and in a short time we ourselves 
crossed the frontiers and took up our old quarters at 
Gallegos ; here we found many of our acquaintances of 
the preceding year, and the enemy having retired upon 
Ciudad Rodrigo, we were suffered for a while to recruit 
our strength. 

Some weeks after our arrival at Gallegos, the battalion 
had orders to prepare for marching at an hour's notice, 
and to leave their knapsacks behind. This was announced 
by Colonel Beckwith on the afternoon parade, who, at the 
same time, desiring those who were sick or weakly to fall 
out, as a forced march was to be undertaken to prevent the 
French throwing supplies into Rodrigo. On hearing this 
several skulkers in the regiment fell out of the ranks, but 
were obliged to fall in again. 

Passing down the regiment, Colonel Beckwith, attracted 
by the evident looks of ill-health of a man named Burke, 
noted for his daring courage, very humanely advised him 
to remain behind, " For you look very ill, Burke," said 
the Colonel. " No, Sir," replied Burke, casting a look of 
contempt on the skulkers, " I certainly am not well, but I 
still have the heart of a man, and will keep up with 
my comrades as long as my legs will carry m€." The 
Colonel evinced a melancholy, but evident satisfaction, 



A SOLDIER. 77 

at this manly reply. " I am sorry/' said he, " that 
the sneaking propensities of others should compel a brave 
man to act against himself." This brave fellow Burke was 
afterwards one of the forlorn hope at Ciudad Rodrigo, 
Badajoz, and St. Sebastian, through the successive horrors 
of which he lived to fall mortally wounded at Quatre Bras, 
just previous to the battle of Waterloo. 

Our expeditionary party marched early in the morning. 
We took the direction of Rodrigo, fording the river Agueda 
in our way. We were doomed to have only our march for 
our trouble — the expected convoy of the enemy had escaped 
us ; so that, harassed to death, we had the pleasure of 
retracing our steps not a wit wiser than we went. In re- 
crossing the river, a poor fellow of our company, spent 
with fatigue, was carried off his legs and drowned. 
Another would have shared the same fate, but for Brigade- 
Major Mellish, who, by swimming his horse to his assist- 
ance, saved the man. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Our advance videttes, and the French cavalry — Manoeuvring in front of Villa 
Formosa— The Suttler and the Dragoons — Sergeant-Major Sharp — Morning 
of the 5th May — General Crauford returns — Portuguese welcome — Fuentes 
d'Onor — French Dragoon challenges to single combat— Retreat on Navez 
d'Aver — Charges of cavalry — A deep game by the French — Squaring it with 
the enemy — The 79th Highlanders— A prisoner against his will — The French 
sentry and General Crauford — The Light Dragoons again — Sergeant-Major 
Sharp again — Scene of discipline — That lash disappointed — The German 
fratricide. 

On the 4th May, about half-past nine o'clock, a.m., our 
advance videttes were observed circling, one to the right, 
and the other to the left, at a trot, by which informa- 
tion was conveyed that bodies of infantry and cavalry were 
advancing. The bugle immediately sounded the " assem- 
blee," and our division quickly assembled on its alarm 
post, on the Gallegos road. My company was attached to 
the 14th Light Dragoons, then under the orders of General 
Slade, who commanded the cavalry-brigade. He ordered 



78 ADVENTURES OF 

them to take ground to the right, and deploy into line in 
the rear of a rivulet, which flowed between us and the 
French. In a few minutes the enemy's cavalry were 
discovered emerging from a wood in our front, where they 
had formed in close columns and halted, throwing out 
strong bodies of skirmishers. 

A sharp conflict ensued betwixt the cavalries, yet the 
enemy were evidently awaiting the concentration of their 
advancing columns from Ciudad Rodrigo. General Slade 
now ordered the whole of us to retire, which the cavalry 
did in eschelons of squadrons, and covering us on the road 
towards Navez d'Aver, which was quietly effected ; the 
enemy still holding their old position near the wood. One 
squadron of the 14th was stationed on the verge of another 
wood, on the right of Fuentes, as an advanced picquet, but 
was withdrawn at the close of the evening, and joined 
the regiments in bivouac within some stone wall enclosures, 
near Villa Formosa. 

During the night some of the dragoons discovered 
the resting-place of a suttler, who had just arrived from 
Abrantes with a string of mules laden with rum, wine, 
aguardiente, &c, &c, and sardines, a species of red-herring, 
which was then considered a great luxury. News of such 
a neighbour flew on eagle wings through the camp, but in 
low whispers, lest the slumbers of the chief should be dis- 
turbed, and check their merry-making. The secret, how- 
ever, was soon discovered, no doubt occasioned by the 
uproarious bursts of merriment and songs which pealed 
from fire to fire. Although these were the general cha- 
racteristics of the British soldier on the eve of a battle, on 
this occasion, they were heightened by the liquor, and were 
louder than usual, while the officers awakened from their 
slumbers, could not for some moments conceive the cause 
of what they heard. General Slade, however, with lungs 
that roused the camp, as though a thirteen-inch shell had 
exploded amongst them, called for the regimental Sergeant- 
Major Sharp, who, on making his appearance, was dis- 
covered to have partaken too freely of the suttler' s strong 
waters, and was immediately placed in arrest. A non- 
commissioned officer was ordered to bundle off both suttler 



A SOLDIER. 79 

and mules to some distance, placing a line of sentries that 
no one might come in or go out of the camp. The noise 
and hilarity soon ceased, the merry-makers dispersed, and 
a few minutes found them outstretched and asleep under 
cover of the dry walls. 

Early on the morning of the 5th, our company was 
ordered to join the battalions ; we did so, and took up our 
position to the left of the ruins of Fort Conception, which, 
as I before mentioned, had been previously destroyed, as it 
lay near the main road to Almeida, the siege of which 
place the French seemed anxious to raise. 

While things were in this state, at an early hour General 
Crauford made his re-appearance amongst us from England, 
and was welcomed with much enthusiasm by the division ; 
although a strict disciplinarian, the men knew his value in 
the field too well not to testify their satisfaction at his 
return. The Cac^dores, particularly, caused much laugh- 
ter among us, by shouting out in Portuguese the moment 
they caught sight of him, " Long live General Crauford, 
who takes care of our bellies !" meaning by this excla- 
mation they got their rations regularly, while under his 
command ; the General seemed highly pleased, and bowed 
repeatedly with his hat off as he rode down the ranks. 

The whole of the British were under arms at day-break, 
earnestly expecting, from the movements of the enemy, 
that an attack would be made ; this suspense was but 
short, for very soon a heavy cannonading was heard on our 
right, in which direction we were immediately ordered, 
"While moving accordingly we passed the Guards of the 1 st 
division, entrenched behind the town of Fuentes ; we 
immediately occupied some old dry walls considerably 
in advance, and facing the enemy's left, a fine extended 
plain laying between us, with a wood on the French side, of 
which the enemy had possession. In front of this a 
regiment of cavalry was conspicuously formed, a troop 
of which came trotting leisurely towards us to reconnoitre 
our position. 

This movement induced a corresponding one from some 
of our dragoons, when both parties threw out their videttes, 



80 ADVENTURES OF 

and remained halted with some four hundred yards of 
ground between them. 

One of their videttes, after being posted facing an 
English dragoon, of the 14th or 16th (for we had only 
those two light dragoon regiments with us at the time, and 
the German Hussars), displayed an instance of individual 
gallantry, in which the French, to do them justice, were 
seldom wanting. "Waving his long straight sword, the 
Frenchman rode within sixty yards of our dragoon, and 
challenged him to single combat. We immediately ex- 
pected to see our cavalry man engage his opponent, sword 
in hand. Instead of this, however, he unslung his carbine 
and fired at the Frenchman, who not a whit dismayed, 
shouted out so that every one could hear him, "Venez 
avec le sabre : je suis pret pour Napoleon et la belle 
France." Having vainly endeavoured to induce the En- 
glishman to a personal conflict, and after having endured 
two or three shots from his carbine, the Frenchman rode 
proudly back to his ground, cheered even by our own men. 
We were much amused by his gallantry, while we hissed 
our own dragoon, who, it was afterwards stated, for the 
credit of the gallant regiment he belonged to, was a recruit. 

Just after the preceding occurrence, a smart action had 
commenced in the wood before- mentioned, and our com- 
pany was ordered to take ground to the front, where the 
85th regiment were very roughly handled by the enemy. 
This was the first time since their arrival, in the country, 
that they had been engaged. Opposed, with their conspi- 
cuous red dresses, to the old trained French tirailleurs, it is 
no wonder that the gallant 85 th should have suffered 
so severely. When we came up, however, our practised 
fellows, in their dark clothing, frqm the murderous nature 
of our arms, soon turned back the advancing French, who 
commenced gradually retreating before us, until they 
got through the wood on the plain that leads to Navez 
d'Aver. 

We had no sooner beaten back the enemy than a loud 
cheering to the right attracted our attention, and w r e 
perceived our 1st heavy dragoons charge a French cavalry 



A SOLDIER. 81 

regiment. As this was the first charge of cavalry most of 
us had ever seen, we were all naturally much interested on 
the occasion. The French skirmishers who were extended 
against us seemed to participate in the same feeling, as 
both parties suspended firing while the affair of dragoons 
was going on. The English and French cavalry met 
in the most gallant manner, and with the greatest show 
of resolution. The first shock, when they came in colli- 
sion, seemed terrific, and many men and horses fell on both 
sides. They had ridden through and past each other, and 
now they wheeled round again. This was followed by 
a second charge, accompanied by some very pretty sabre- 
practice, by which many saddles were emptied, and English 
and French chargers were soon seen galloping about the 
field without riders. These immediately occupied the 
attention of the French skirmishers and ourselves, and we 
were soon engaged in pursuing them, the men of each 
nation endeavouring to secure the chargers of the opposite 
one as legal spoil. While engaged in this chase we fre- 
quently became intermixed, when much laughter was 
indulged in by both parties at the different accidents 
that occurred in our pursuit. 

I had secured a very splendid charger, when chancing 
to turn my head, I perceived that the French were playing 
a deep game. They had succeeded in removing a regi- 
ment of infantry, with some cavalry, through the wood in 
our rear. The alarm, however, was immediately given, 
and our company as foremost, had to run for their lives 
into a square formed by the 52nd, who were close to the 
foot guards. During this sudden movement, I was obliged 
to part with my horse, the cavalry did not pursue us ; but 
their artillery opened upon the 52nd's square, and did 
some execution. 

These incidents, though fearfully strange to some of my 
readers, were very enlivening to us. Ours indeed was a 
noble enemy ; they never permitted us to flag, for want of 
stimuli, but kept us ever on the qui vive. We anticipated 
little terror from capture, and though we ever found them 
to be our roughest antagonists, yet we always experienced 
a most generous opposition ; indeed there was, on the 

G 



82 ADVENTURES OF 

whole, such a chivalrous spirit carried on between us, that 
our men had a kind of respect even for a wound inflicted 
by a Frenchman. 

Our next attempt was upon the left of Fuentes, where 
one company was detached, while the remainder of the 
regiment was ordered to take possession of the town. The 
section to which I belonged were posted near the banks of 
the river Das Casas. The 79 th Highlanders had suffered 
very severely here, as the place was strewn about with their 
bodies. Poor fellows ! they had not been used to skirmish- 
ing, and instead of occupying the houses in the neighbour- 
hood, and firing from the windows, they had, as I heard, 
exposed themselves, by firing in sections. The French, 
who still occupied part of the town, had not escaped a 
rough handling, as their dead also evinced. 

During the latter part of the day the enemy had made 
some prisoners, which they exhibited to us as they marched 
them along their lines. One man we saw make a deter- 
mined attempt to obtain his liberty. He had loitered in 
the rear as the party were going over a small bridge that 
crossed the Das Casas by a mill, when, turning suddenly 
upon a Frenchman behind him, he threw him into the 
water, and immediately made a dash for our position, but 
owing to several of the French being between him and us, 
we had the mortification of seeing the poor fellow re- 
captured, without being enabled to render him any assist- 
ance ; we could see by his kilt that he belonged to the 
79th regiment. 

That same evening, the enemy evacuated the town, and 
a flag of truce was sent us to bury the dead. While occu- 
pied in this, at all times melancholy duty, some idea may 
be formed of the loss sustained by the 79th alone, when a 
man of our company brought in his two arms full of the 
sable plumes which he had taken from their bonnets, 
strewn about the town. 

The opposing lines of sentries were very close to each 
other : the French being divided from us only by a 
narrow plank thrown across the mill-dam, which was 
occupied on one side by our company, who were now on 
picquet. 



A SOLDIER. 83 

A blacksmith of ours of the name of Tidy, who had 
erected his forge in the old mill, was at work close by, 
shoeing the officers' horses. The French sentry had 
crossed the plank to light his pipe, and was standing care- 
lessly chatting with me, when who should I see approach- 
ing, but General Crauford, inquiring if Tidy had shod his 
horse. The Frenchman's red wings soon attracted the 
General's notice, and he suddenly with his well-known 
stern glance, inquired, 

" Who the devil's that you're talking with, rifleman ?" 

I informed him the French sentry, who had come over 
for a light for his pipe. 

"Indeed," replied Crauford, "let him go about his 
business, he has no right here, nor we either," said he, in 
a low whisper to his aide-de-camp, and away he walked. 

Our battalion remained in the suburbs of Fuentes a few 
days, and the enemy who had desisted from their attempt 
to relieve Almeida, retired ; we followed them and took up 
our quarters at Gallegos. Anxious to know the fate of 
Serjeant-Major Sharp, of the 14th Light Dragoons, imme- 
diately on our arrival I called on an old friend, a Corporal 
Henley,* of the same regiment, and he gave me the follow- 
ing particulars and further proceedings of that gallant and 
highly distinguished regiment. 

" On the 5th, early in the morning," said he, " after 
you left us, we assembled on our respective alarm posts, 
which at daylight we found to be none other than the 
position so gloriously contested and known as Fuentes 
d'Onor. 

"The regiment formed in close columns and dis- 
mounted, the commissariat having arrived with the mules, 
rations were issued to both man and horse, and to many 
it proved to be their last. It so happened that during the 
distribution of corn, the horses of Lieutenant Shields had 
been forgotten. It was, therefore, necessary to make a 
collection from each dragoon, to make good the deficiency ; 
one of these, named Trowers, under the influence of the 

* This veteran soldier, who was afterwards promoted to the rank of Sergeant- 
Major, through the interest of his old commander Sir Hussey Vivian, now holds 
a situation in the Tower, where we frequently meet, 

G 2 



84 ADVENTURES OF 

preceding night's liquor refused to allow any of his corn to 
be taken, and drawing his sword, declared with an oath, he 
would cut down the first man who dared to take a grain 
from his horse. As a matter of course, he was placed 
under arrest, and a drum-head court-martial was instantly 
summoned for the trial of the prisoner, at which also was 
arraigned the unfortunate Serjeant-Major Sharp ; all the 
while the action was becoming general along the lines. 

" Captain Bull's troop of artillery, then on our right, 
marked with the most accurate skill the movements of the 
enemy, who in turn did not allow us to remain silent 
spectators, as their round-shot measured with equal 
exactness the standing of our columns. The court-martial 
being closed, the troops stood to their horses, and the 
proceedings were read : the dragoon was sentenced to receive 
three hundred lashes, and the Serjeant-Major reduced to 
the rank and pay of a private sentinel. The bars of the 
latter were immediately cut off, and a gun from Captain 
Bull's train was brought to the flank of the regiment, and 
the prisoner ordered to be tied to it ; in the moment of 
doing this, one of the staff came galloping up, his horse 
covered with foam, bearing orders for the regiment to take 
ground to the right and charge, covering our flank which 
in that direction was falling back, harassed by the enemy's 
eavalry. 

"The words c Stand to your horses— Mount — Three 
right — Gallop, 5 followed in quick succession ; and like 
shots from a six-pounder, we left the scenes of military 
discipline. The prisoner in this confusion, and half 
accoutred, made a leap into his saddle, and drawing his 
sword and giving his horse the spur, rushed into the ranks, 
and the non-commissioned officer, in whose charge he had 
been left, unable to prevent him, galloped after and mixed 
in the attack. 

" This fortunate occurrence saved the poor fellow from 
the disgrace of the c lash/ but his good fortune did not 
continue with him throughout the day, as he was one of 
the brave, who fell some short time afterwards, in the gal- 
lant charge made by a squadron of ours, on two of the 
enemy's guns. 



A SOLDIER. 85 

JC On our arrival on the right, our infantry had formed 
square and were falling back menaced by a numerous 
cavalry ; indeed I may say, as it was the case, our right 
flank was turned. Our guns opened between the interval 
of squares upon their advancing columns, when one 
squadron of the 1 st Royal Dragoons, and one of our regi- 
ments charged, led by Major Mills ; their cavalry were 
driven back, and many prisoners taken. The infantry con- 
tinued to fall back with as much steadiness and order, as if 
in review. 

<e I must here relate/' continued Henley, with deep 
emotion, " an event which at the time filled all who were 
present with a sorrow which indeed I shall never forget. 
General Slade, observing the numerous cavalry against 
which his brigade had to contend, advised the officer in 
command, not to allow their ranks to be weakened by con- 
ducting prisoners to the rear, but after disarming them, to 
let them proceed of their own accord. It was not un- 
common therefore to observe groups of French dragoons 
riding quietly to the rear, looking for any one to take them 
in charge. It happened that a hussar of the 3rd Ger- 
man's having taken a prisoner, ordered him to fall back also ; 
the latter having ridden some little distance as directed, 
suddenly applied both spurs to his horse, making a detour 
to his regiment ; the German, observing this, as quickly 
pursued, and upon closing with him fired his pistol, and 
the dragoon fell dead from his horse. 

" The hussar having secured the Frenchman's rein con- 
veyed him some little distance to the rear, and proceeded 
to take off his valise, when overhauling the contents, he 
discovered a letter from his father, on reading which, he 
found that it was his own brother who had fallen by his 
hands. Stupified with horror, he sat motionless and 
speechless on his horse for some minutes, when he ex- 
claimed, the big tears rolling down his veteran cheek, e The 
king has commanded, and my God will forgive me/ at 
the same time applying his spurs, he rushed headlong into 
the battle. 

" A few days after, meeting a patrol of the same regi- 



86 ADVENTURES OF 

ment near Gallegos, inquiry was made respecting our unfor- 
tunate hussar., when we were informed that he too had that 
day numbered with the dead, not far from the corpse of his 
brother/' 



CHAPTER XII. 

Almeida closely invested by the fifth division, but not close enough — Evacuation 
by the French — Suicide of the Colonel of the 4th — Sabugal — We cross the Coa 
— The comet — Much ado about nothing — Tom Crawley's fears — March through 
Castello Branco — Portalegre, &c, to Campo Mayor — Tom Crawley poisoned— 
Blockade of Ciudad Rodrigo — Atalaya — Hunting excursion with the Staff — 
Our third battalion joins us — Colonel Barnard — Tommy Searchfield — Middy 
ashore — Deficiency of rations — A new arrival — His adventure — Spanish spite 
— The pigs — Rodrigo relieved by the French — Our division — We rejoin the 
army — Battle of El Bodon — We return to Guinaldo — Again invest Rodrigo — 
January, 1812— Fort Piquerine stormed — The stripping of the prisoners by the 
Portuguese — Tom Crawley again — Cure for a skulk. 

At this period Almeida was closely invested by the fifth 
division, while we in front watched the main army. Early 
on the morning of the 1 Oth of May we were ordered to get 
under arms, and march towards Barba del Puerco, the 
scene of one of our former skirmishes the year before. On 
arriving near the town we heard some smart firing, and we 
halted. We now were informed, for the first time, that 
the French garrison at Almeida, after blowing up the walls 
at night, evacuated the town, and had cut their way 
through the blockading force. 

The brigades of the fifth division, I believe, did duty by 
turns. That in which were the 2nd and 4th regiments 
happened to be on picquet when the French made their 
way through the investing force, which gave rise to a verse 
that became very common amongst the troops. But I 
must remark that the badge of the 2nd regiment was, a 
lamb, and that of the 4th a lion. The lines were as fol- 
lows : — 

" The lion went to sleep, 
And the lambs were at play ; 
The eagle spread her wings, 
And from Almeida new away. &!> 



A SOLDIER. 87 

Although these regiments were rendered somewhat un- 
popular from this circumstance, it is generally admitted, by 
those capable of judging, that there were not two finer in 
the service. Our battalion had been particularly fond of 
the 4th, while they were quartered at Colchester, where 
they had christened us in a friendly feeling, ff The young 
4th," The melancholy death of their Colonel, who, from 
an over-sensitive feeling of honour, shot himself shortly 
after the foregoing unlucky affair, was generally regretted. 

The evacuation of the fortress of Almeida having 
rendered the presence of our division thereabouts no longer 
necessary, another movement was made to the southward 
to General Hill, who commanded the second division, at 
this time menaced by a very superior force of the French. 

On the first day's march we passed through Sabugal, 
crossed the Coa, and encamped in a chesnut wood, close to 
our former scene of action. 

Here a very strange panic occurred, that might have 
been attended with most disastrous effects. About twelve 
at night I was stretched on my back under the boughs of a 
tree, admiring the comet that at that period created some 
sensation in Europe, from its nearness to the earth, when a 
general alarm and outcry was raised in the division that 
" The French were upon us." In a moment I started up, 
and seized my rifle. The different regiments were assem- 
bling in the greatest disorder, while the general cries 
of alarm on all sides induced many to feel a terror that 
was, perhaps, never felt in battle. Among others I plainly 
observed General Crauford, desiring all whom he met 
to fall in and load, xlfter a short while the panic ceased : 
we all looked foolish enough at the great ado about nothing, 
though some attributed the cause to French spies having 
got among us, others to some bullocks grazing by, that 
had knocked down several stands of arms ; others again 
accused the comet, and among the latter in our battalion 
was that worthy, Tom Crawley, who stoutly contended the 
comet was a sign we ought to leave the country, as it 
would shortly drop down and burn up that part of Europe. 
Tom himself at this period, it was shrewdly suspected, had 
a great desire to turn his steps homewards. 



88 ADVENTURES OF 

We continued our march through Castello Branco^ 
Portalegre, and encamped on a low ground called Monte 
Reguingo, on the right of the road leading to Campo 
Mayor. There we remained about six weeks, during which 
we suffered dreadfully for want of rations as well as from 
the oppressive heat of the weather ; we called it the furnace 
camp. Tom, while we remained at Reguingo, imagined him- 
self poisoned. He had eaten rather ravenously of some pork 
and caravances (a sort of pulse), and was suddenly seized 
with violent paroxysms of pain through his over-gorging. 
Old Doctor Burke being sent for, found Crawley on the 
ground groaning most piteously, and swelled to an enor- 
mous size, while two of his comrades were busy rubbing the 
lower part of his belly. The Doctor, who fancied Spain 
during the last two years had brought Tom's stomach to 
suit the convenience of the commissary, commenced a 
volley of abuse — "you cannibal, what garbage have you 
been swallowing/' he cried, "to leave you in this con- 
dition V s " Oh, murther, do you hear him boys," roared 
the sufferer, as he turned up his eyes towards his tor- 
mentor. " By the mother of God, Sir, this infernal country 
will kill the whole of us — may a curse fall on it ; arrah, 
Doctor dear, when I came into it I had a stomach like any 
other Christian ; but now, oh God, have mercy on me poor 
stomach, that for want of Christian food is turned into 
a scavenger's cart, obliged to take in every rubhage." The 
Doctor, who seldom did anything by halves, gave him an 
emetic sufficient to physic a dromedary. Crawley, how- 
eyer, who never feared death on the field, now seemed 
to hesitate to meet him in quarters, and between the groans 
he uttered, made the most vehement promises of mending 
his sinful life if spared. Never was an intended pious 
scene made more truly ludicrous ; our men were in 
convulsions of laughter. 

In July we returned to assist in the blockade of Ciudad 
Rodrigo, and took up a position at a village called iltalaya, 
at the base of the Sierra de Gata, a range of mountains. 
Here Lord Wellington's staff frequently went out hunting. 
On these occasions they generally had five or six men 
of the Rifles to assist. The place abounded in wolves and 



A SOLDIER. 89 

wild boars, so that a great deal of amusement was expe- 
rienced in this sport. I generally had the good fortune to 
be selected, with others of our battalion, to attend his 
Lordship's staff in these excursions. The chase was very 
exciting, particularly from the ferocious nature of the game 
we sought. I well remember the first wild boar I saw in 
one of these hunts : he was a huge fellow, with tusks of a 
most alarming size, but although we fired several shots, 
and the hounds pursued him, he escaped. One day we 
came upon three young wolf cubs, the old ones having 
abandoned them on our approach. These animals, which 
we presented to one of our officers, remained in his 
possession for a long time, and became as docile and 
playful as kittens. 

Here we were joined by our third battalion, under 
the command of Colonel Barnard, Colonel Beckwith having 
retired through ill-health, a gallant and very distinguished 
officer, now known as General Sir Andrew Barnard ; at the 
same time, also, we were reinforced, by a batch of recruits 
from England, and by one Tommy Searchfield, a character 
well known to all the Light Brigade. This gentleman, 
a squat, square little fellow, had formerly been a " middy " 
in the Royal Navy, and now come over to us as a cadet, 
and subsequently obtained a lieutenancy. 

"Tommy's" first feat was something after the lessons 
he had received under the immortal Nelson. He had been 
accustomed hitherto to meet his enemies " muzzle to 
muzzle," and, consequently, whenever the least intimation 
was given of the presence of the French, would imagine 
them almost passing through the loopholes, or as he termed 
them, our "ports." On one occasion he bawled aloud, 
" to quarters," and seizing hold of a rope, suspended out- 
side the church of the village, to one of the bells in 
the belfry ; to our surprise, and that of the inhabitants 
also, ran up it like a cat, to keep the " look-out" for the 
enemy. We, however, were some distance from them. 
The officers, for want of better employment, occupied their 
own and our time erecting sham fortifications in the woods, 
&c, and thus turned " Tom's " peculiarities to their 
amusement. Searchfield, however, got " awake " to thern^ 



90 ADVENTURES OF 

and his original good-natured simplicity giving way to ex- 
perience, he gently informed his tormentors that he kept 
"a clean brace of pistols 55 about him, " at any time at 
their sarvice. 55 This unexpected show of pluck made his 
"teazers" less gibing, and " Tommy' 5 took his proper 
position; and, I believe, became as respectable as any 
of them. 

At Atalaya we were very much in the advance of the 
main army : the distance made it difficult for the commis- 
sariat to forward our rations regularly, and we, conse* 
quently, suffered dreadfully through want ; and, I may 
say, underwent more privations than at any other place in 
Spain, excepting at Dough Boy Hill. The deficiency of 
bread we had been obliged to make up with roasted or 
boiled chesnuts, of which we were always allowed a quart 
a day each. At length we found it necessary to make an 
incursion into the mountains, to press the Alcaldes of 
the different villages to supply us. 

On one of these expeditions, under charge of a quarter- 
master, we observed two persons mounted on mules, riding 
towards us. On their approach we remarked to one 
another the light-haired appearance of one, and the singu- 
larity of a <c fair-complexioned Spaniard, 55 when the fellow 
suddenly stopped his mule, and jumping toward us 
exclaimed, " Oh, by the merciful God, are ye English ?" 
He was immediately answered from a dozen voices in the 
affirmative, and we discovered him to be one of our cavalry 
men, who having been made a prisoner by the French 
at Talavera, had since escaped. His short stay among the 
Spaniards had not spoilt his " brogue, 55 and he gave us in 
the real Irish accent, a full account of his adventures. 

When the enemy took him, dragoon-like, together with 
a slight wound, he could not keep up with his captors, 
who, having no mules, were in the practice of pressing 
the strongest and most robust of the inhabitants and 
making them carry the English prisoners on their backs, 
now and then keeping up their stamina by pricking their 
hind-quarters with the bayonets. Our cavalier conse- 
quently found himself mounted in like manner ; the close 
contact, however, that this brought him in with the ears of 



A SOLDIER. 91 

his bearers was followed by whispers, and the Spaniards no 
doubt as tired of their burthen as the burthen of the 
French, slipped him into a house on the way-side, whence, 
having quickly shaved the top of his sconce, they passed 
him as a priest, and he escaped with them into the moun- 
tains. He there got amongst the Guerillas, under Don 
Julian Sanchez, of whom he gave us many amusing 
anecdotes, and who passed him on till he reached us. 
As soon as we returned to the village he reported himself 
to General Crauford, who laughed heartily at the details he 
gave of himself, and ordered his servant to give him a coat 
to supply his almost naked condition until he rejoined his 
regiment. Meanwhile he was ordered to stop with our 
company, and took up his quarters in the house with me. 

Among other amusements before detailed, we used to 
get up jumping, wrestling, and cuffing-matches with the 
peasantry, who generally joined most heartily in the fun. 
One day, however, a Spaniard of theirs, being over-matched, 
became exceedingly nettled, and commenced quarrelling 
with one of our sergeants, named Kitchen ; the result was 
they came to blows, when after two or three slight cuffs 
the peasant fell suddenly and expired. The village, of 
course, became a scene of uproar, and we were obliged, 
to satisfy the inhabitants, to hold a kind of inquest upon 
him. However, the barber, or " Sangrado " of the place, 
together with our own surgeon, to their extreme mortifi- 
cation declared, that the man had injured the spleen of his 
stomach, and actually had died through spite. 

I must not forget to mention the sagacity of the pigs, 
which, in great numbers were kept by the farmers of 
the village. Though belonging to different owners they all 
obeyed one master, who, it may be said, with the Alcalde, 
held absolute sway over "man and beast/' Early in the 
morning the animals were assembled, by the sounding of a 
horn, and taken by him into the wood to feed on acorns, 
and at night were driven home again in like manner, 
the swine-herd's only deputies being a short iron on the 
end of a stick, somewhat like that used by our shepherds. 
The anxiety of the animals, immediately they heard the 
tones of his instrument, was remarkable, and if they chanced 



92 ADVENTURES OF 

to be confined at the time, their screams and grunts grew 
most vociferous, and might be heard a mile off. Indeed it 
was only for the herdsman to tune up at any time of 
the day they would come to him instantly, and seldom even 
one was missing, save and except now and then when they 
chanced to fall into the clutches of our riflemen. 

About this period General Marmont, who had succeeded 
Massena in command of the French army, having concen- 
trated his force, was enabled to relieve Rodrigo. Making 
a forward movement after this, it was found high time 
for our regiment to retire. This we did at an hour's 
notice, as we heard the enemy were stirring to beat up our 
quarters. We fell in at dead of night, and after making a 
semi-circular march, for there were some fears of the 
enemy cutting us off, we arrived at El Bodon. There we 
found the greater part of the army assembled under Lord 
Wellington, together with the remainder of our light 
division, who loudly cheered us as we made our appear- 
ance, a report having arisen amongst the rest of the troops 
that one battalion had been all taken prisoners. 

On our arrival, most of us were occupied gleaning ac- 
counts of the battle of El Bodon, which had been fought 
the day before, in which the 5th and 77th regiments, as 
we then heard, had much distinguished themselves, resist- 
ing the desperate charges made upon them by the Polish 
Lancers in the French service. 

From El Bodon, where we remained some time, we re- 
treated to Soito, and shortly afterwards returned to Guin- 
aldo, a town still closer to the city of Ciudad Rodrigo, In 
the beginning of January, 1812, our division commenced 
investing Ciudad. The first day, our brigade crossed the 
Agueda, about three miles up the river from the city, round 
which we marched, keeping always at' a most respectful 
distance on account of their round-shot. From the idea 
this survey gave us of Rodrigo there were few of our men 
not aware of the great strength of the fortress and out- 
works, but it afforded only a subject for jest ; as I believe 
at that time, such was the confidence that filled the ranks 
of our division, it would have been difficult to persuade the 
men that they could not beat the French, under any odds. 



A SOLDIER. 93 

The same evening, Colonel Colborne, with less than two 
hundred men, of the 43rd, 52nd, and Rifles, carried in the 
most gallant manner a strong fort of the enemy. Prior to 
its being stormed a number of Cacadores had been ordered 
to take blankets to convey away the wounded French as 
well as the British. But most of those employed in this 
duty took advantage of it to strip the prisoners, whom to 
the number of fifty they left almost as naked as they were 
born, and exposed to all the rigours of the inclement month 
of January. I was present near the tent of General Crau- 
ford, when a talkative, smart little Frenchman, whom I 
guessed to be an officer, was brought before him ; the poor 
fellow had nothing on but his trowsers, and bled profusely 
from the nose and mouth, through the blows he had 
received. 

The General was very chagrined at the sight, and 
lamented his inability to give him clothes, his own baggage 
being so distant. Tom Crawley, however, who had been 
actively employed hunting the Portuguese from them, imme- 
diately stepped forward, and touching his hat after his own 
inimitable manner, "Yer homier," said Tom, his eyes 
sparkling at being able to assist, " I'll lend him my great 
coat, if ye' 11 allow me." 

Crauford, much pleased at his frank offer, instantly an- 
swered, " You are very good, Rifleman ; let him have it," 
and Tom proceeded to strip. Meanwhile more of the 
Frenchmen were marched in, many worse off than their 
officer. One of them, a sergeant, and a smart looking 
fellow, as soon as he. perceived the officer, ran to embrace 
him, and leaning his head on his shoulder, burst into tears 
over their mutual misery. Captain Smith, now Sir Harry, 
the General's aide-de-camp, being present, generously 
pulled forth his pocket-handkerchief and wrapped it round 
the sergeant's totally naked person, till further covering 
could be obtained. 

The night of this occurrence came on remarkably cold, 
and when expecting to be marched back to our quarters at 
El Bodon, we were suddenly ordered to break ground by 
commencing to throw up intrenchments in the face of the 
city. In executing this task, being unsheltered from the 



94 ADVENTURES OF 

enemy's shot, their grape and canister occasionally played 
in among us, so that although it was freezing hard at the 
time, we had no reason to complain of not having a good 
-fire. 

Now was the time to cure a skulker, or teach a man to 
work for his " life." There we were, in twos, each pro- 
vided with a pick-axe and shovel ; now digging with a ven- 
geance into the frozen mould, and then watching the 
glances of the shot and shell ; and again sticking to work 
like devils, or perhaps pitching ourselves on our bellies to 
avoid their being "purged" with grape or cannister. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Cold reception — Preparation to storm Rodrigo — I join the " Forlorn-Hope" — 
The breaches — General Crauford killed — Uniacke mortally wounded — Major 
Napier wounded — Taking of the town — A rough customer — Wilkie again — - 
Death of Wilkie— A gift— The left breach after the battle— Wilkie's grave- 
Horrors of a storm— This is my niece, Sir— The right breach— Captain Uniacke 
— The Light Division leave Rodrigo in disguise — Who the devil are those 
fellows?— We enter El Bodon. 

The following day we were relieved by the third division, 
and marched back to our quarters, cold, hungry, and 
fatigued enough. One great annoyance we experienced at 
this time, was having to cross the Agueda in going to and 
returning from the trenches. Pieces of ice that were con- 
stantly carried down this rapid stream bruised our men so 
much, that, to obviate it, the cavalry at length were ordered 
to form four deep across the ford, under the lee of whom 
we crossed comparatively unharmed, although by the time 
we reached our quarters, our clothes were frozen into a mass 
of ice. 

Our divisions continued relieving each other in the 
trenches for some days, until two breaches were considered 
practicable for an assault. On the 18th, at night, an order 
came that we were to proceed to the works the next morn- 
ing. As this took us out of our turn of duty, we all natu- 
rally supposed that something unusual was to be done. At 
daylight we joined the third division in the works, and then 



A SOLDIER. 95 

heard that the city was to be stormed. Volunteers were 
immediately required from the different regiments of our 
division. Many of our men came forward with alacrity for 
this deadly service. With three others I had, as I then 
considered, the good fortune to be chosen from our com- 
pany.* This was an occasion, as may be believed, mo- 
mentous and interesting enough in the life of a soldier, and 
so we seemed to consider it. We shook hands with a feel- 
ing of friendly sincerity, while we speculated as to the 
chances of outliving the assault. We were at this time in 
the trenches in front of the city, from whence proceeded a 
very smart fire of shot and shell, probably to give us an 
idea of the warm reception we might expect on our visit at 
night, and here the entire company gathered round our 
little party, each pressing to have a sup from his canteen. 
I gave my father's address to my comrade before starting, 
in case of accident. 

Darkness had no sooner closed over the devoted city, 
and our imaginations awakened to the horrors of the coming 
scene, than the " stormers" were immediately ordered to 
"fall in" and "form." We were four or five from each 
company, and in all about a hundred and twenty men. 
The volunteers of our regiment were led by Captain 
Mitchell and Lieutenants Johnson and Kincaid ; the whole 
of the storming division being commanded by Major George 
Napier of the 52nd regiment. The forlorn-hope, or 
storm ers, moved to a convent, occupied by the 40th, the 
walls of which protected us from the enemy's shot. General 
Crauford, who led us in person, while we stood formed 

* As some of my readers may not tie acquainted with the duty and the cha- 
racter of a "Forlorn-Hope," I will proceed to explain it. On the eve of the 
storming of a fortress, the breaches, &c, being all ready, Captains of companies, 
on their private parade, give the men to understand that such and such a place 
is to be taken by storm. Every man then, who wishes to volunteer to head the 
stormers, steps forward to the front, and his name is immediately taken down 
by the officer ; if none offer themselves the first men for duty are selected. 
With our regiment this latter alternative was never required, as a sufficient 
number were always ready. 

This service, or "Forlorn- Hope," is designated by the French in the not less 
appropriate term of " LesEnfants perdus," or " Lost Children," and has always 
to lead or make the first attack. 



96 ADVENTURES OF 

under the wall, addressed us upon the nature of the duty 
assigned us. It was the last enterprise his gallant spirit 
was ever destined to direct. On this memorable occasion 
his voice was more than ordinarily clear and distinct. His 
words sunk deep in my memory, and although the shock 
of many a battle has rolled over my grey locks since that 
period, I remember some of his language as follows : — 

" Soldiers ! the eyes of your country are upon you. Be 
steady, — be cool, — be firm in the assault. The town must 
be yours this night. Once masters of the w r all, let your 
first duty be to clear the ramparts, and in doing this keep 
together." 

We were now waiting only for the signal, while our divi- 
sion was formed immediately in our rear, ready to second 
the effort. I could not help remarking at this awful 
crisis, when all most probably were on the brink of being 
dashed into eternity, a solemnity and silence among the 
men deeper than I had ever witnessed before. With 
hearts beating, each was eagerly watching the expected 
signal of the rocket, when up it went from one of our 
batteries. 

General Crauford, calling out, "Now, lads, for the 
breach !" led the way. We started off in double time, and 
got under fire, in turning the left corner of the wall. As 
we neared the breach, canister, grape, round-shot and shell, 
with fire-balls to show our ground, came pouring on and 
around us, with a regular hail-storm of bullets. General 
Crauford fell almost immediately, mortally wounded. 
Without a pause, however, we dashed onwards to the 
town, and precipitated ourselves into the ditch before the 
walls, never waiting for the ladders, which were carried by 
Portuguese, who ran away and never made their appear- 
ance until their use had been superseded by a series of 
jumps made by our men into a trench some sixteen feet 
deep ; at length one or two ladders having been procured, 
they were instantly placed against the scarp of the trench, 
and up we mounted to attack the breach. The fire kept 
up there was most deadly, and our men for some minutes, 
as they appeared in small bodies, were swept away ; how- 



A SOLDIER. 97 

ever they still persevered, and gradually formed a lodg- 
ment. At this time on our right, where the third division 
were storming the second breach, we could hear a loud 
cheering which had a magical effect. Regardless of the 
enemy's fire and every other impediment, the men dashed 
in over the breach carrying everything before them. I had 
got up among the first, and was struggling with a crowd 
of our fellows to push over the splintered and broken wall 
that formed the breach, when Major Napier, who was by 
my side encouraging on the men, received a shot, and, 
staggering back, would in all probability have fallen into 
the trench, had I not caught him. To my brief inquiry if 
he were badly hurt, he squeezed my hand, whilst his other 
arm hung shattered by his side, saying, " Never mind me 
— push on, my lads, the town is ours \" And so indeed it 
was, our men entering it pell-mell. 

Although dark, among the first I saw, on mounting the 
ramparts was my own Captain, Uniacke, rushing along 
with a few men to the right of the breach. Though not 
on the forlorn-hope, this gallant soldier was determined to 
be first in the town. This was the last time he was doomed 
to be at our head. A few moments afterwards the French 
sprung a mine, by which the whole party were killed or 
maimed. With a few others I had taken a direction to the 
left. The French as they retired kept up an occasional fire 
along the ramparts ; while running forward I came against 
a howitzer, and with such force that it actually tumbled 
me over, and I found myself prostrate across the body of 
a wounded French officer ; beside him was a cannonier of 
his own in the act of assisting him. The latter instantly 
seized me, and a fearful struggle ensued, till bent almost 
double by the height and heavy person of the Frenchman, I 
began to think that after all my escapes my game was over ; 
at this crisis a few of our men came rushing up, one of which 
was my old " chum" Wilkie. The cannonier in his turn 
was fastened on, and tripped instantaneously by the side 
of his master. But poor Wilkie the next minute, himself 
staggered against the howitzer mortally wounded ! I flew 
to his support. But seizing me hastily by the hand, 
and giving it a deadly squeeze, "Ned," he articulated, 

H 



98 ADVENTURES OF 

" it's all up with me" and relaxing his grasp, he fell back 
and expired.* The officer perceiving my agitation, and 
fearful of my retaliating on him, handed me over his gold 
watch. 

Finding I could be of little use to my comrade, and as 
our division was fast entering the breach, I proceeded with 
the storm ers, clearing the walls of the enemy as we went. 
Turning to the right we entered a large square or plaza, 
where we were in a short time joined by some of every 
regiment in the two divisions, all like ourselves helter 
skelter, subject to everything but order. However in a 
short time one regiment of the third division entered the 
square, commanded by their officers ; something like order 
then prevailed ; while planting the British colours in the 
centre, three cheers were then given by the whole, pro- 
claiming the town to be taken : when this was over they 
commenced firing in the air, as well as at windows where 
any light appeared. Seeing the confusion, a number broke 
into squads, and went in different directions and entered 
different streets according to the fancy of their leaders. 
Myself and about a score others took a large street to the 
right. The night being dark and the city not being lighted, 
we were obliged to grope our way, but had not proceeded far 
before we got mixed amongst a quantity of French muskets 
thrown on the ground with their bayonets fixed. One or 
two of the men getting pricked in the leg by one of the 
bayonets, swore they had come to a chevaux-de-frise, and 
groping about came across the body of a wounded French 
soldier, who told us in Spanish that we were close to the 
barracks. 

Knowing the French would not resign their liberty without 
a struggle, I fully expected a volley to be sent amongst us 
every minute from the barracks, and begun to retrace my 
steps towards the square, and had only got a short distance 
when I saw another party with a lighted candle advancing 

* There is no doubt, but Wilkie, Major Napier, and indeed several others in 
advance fell by the fire of the Portuguese -, who being panic-struck by the first 
volley they received from the town, instantly lay down on the glacis, and com- 
menced firing on the breach. A random shot through the embrasure deprived 
my friend of life. 



A SOLDIER. 99 

towards me. On hearing the noise of the first party in their 
front, they commenced firing as they advanced. Squeezing 
myself edgeways against a door, I waited their arrival and 
begged them to desist, there being some of their own men 
lower down. I then went with them and joined the first 
party. The French wounded soldier pointing to a large 
gateway, told us there were the barracks. Still having a 
light we entered, and mounting a large stone staircase, 
found ourselves in the midst of a French hospital full of 
sick and wounded ; those who were able sitting up in bed 
supplicating mercy, but they had no occasion to do so, as 
our fellows not only kindly tapped them on the shoulder 
but wrapped the bed-clothes round them ; but this kindness 
was of short duration, for a third party coming down seeing 
a light in our window commenced firing, and the poor 
fellow who held the candle was shot through the head, and 
one or two others wounded ; one more daring than the 
rest flew to the window, crying out that they were firing 
on their own men, the rest lying down while the firing 
continued. This panic being over, I came down stairs, 
being anxious to meet some of my own company to know 
how things were. I found a few outside, and we started 
in another direction. The next place was a large white 
house that had been used as a commissary's store by the 
French : here a crowd had assembled to break it open, 
when they were warned ofT by a sentinel, a German, who 
was posted to guard the premises. Not heeding his 
threat, the throng rushed at the door. The poor sentry, 
true to his trust, attempted to oppose their entrance, 
and the following minute was run through the body by a 
bayonet. 

The house contained several puncheons of spirits, which 
the men present immediately tapped, by striking in the 
heads. A number soon became madly drunk ; and several 
wretches, especially those mounting the steps that had 
been placed against the butts, to enable them to obtain 
the rum, fell into the liquor head-foremost and perished, 
unnoticed by the crowd. Several fights took place, in 
which drunkenness of the parties alone prevented mis- 
chief; and to crown the whole, a light falling into one of 

h 2 



100 ADYENTTJRES OF 

the barrels of spirits, trie place was set on fire, and many- 
poor wretches, who from the quantity of liquor they had 
swallowed were incapable of moving, were consumed in the 
flames. 

Turning from this scene of horrors, hardened as I then 
was, I went with a comrade, to look for a house where we 
might obtain refreshment and take up our quarters for the 
night. This, after some search, we found in the domicile 
of a doctor, whom we took from under a bed clasped in 
the arms of a very pretty girl whom he called his niece, 
like himself, almost 

Distill'd to jelly with th' effect of fear! 

This, however, we soon dispelled, and were rewarded 
for our pains with a good supper crowned by a bowl of 
excellent punch that at the time, in our own minds, com- 
pensated for all the sufferings we had endured in the 
trenches during the siege. 

The next morning I was anxious to visit the left breach, 
to look for the body of Wilkie. I found him, at length, 
cold and stiff, the bullet having entered his breast close 
under the left shoulder. He was stripped ! But I easily 
distinguished him by the likeness he bore to his sister ; 
old times then burst vividly over my recollection, and as I 
stood over his prostrate remains, a few moments brought 
to mind all the scenes in which he had been so active a 
coadjutor, my quondam recruit, bed-fellow, press-man, and 
pot companion, lay stretched before me clotted and be- 
smeared with his blood, a single drop of which, at one 
time, was even more valued by me than the whole of my 
own more lucky current. The remembrance of his sister, 
much as my profession had tended to wipe her off my mind, 
now resumed its almost pristine freshness ; my eyes dimmed 
for a second, and perchance one solitary proof of my weak- 
ness might have left its scaldjiig course behind it, but I 
felt only as a soldier, a momentary sorrow, for I held my 
own life as it were in my fyand, ready to part with it, at 
even a moment's notice, and I presumed as much of all 
belonging to me. 

The proceeds of the stbrming "business" had enabled. 



A SOLDIER. 101 

me to gain over a few half drunken soldiers, who had been 
staggering near me stupidly staring at my anxiety. We 4 
buried poor Wilkie in the glacis, near the breach, the 
whole wreck around us displaying the veriest monument 
ever reared to the memory of a soldier ! 

I now proceeded to the right breach, which had been 
carried by the third division, where the mine had been 
sprung. The sight exhibited was heart-rending in the 
extreme. The dead lay in heaps, numbers of them 
stripped, and displaying the most ghastly wounds. Here 
and there, half-buried under the blackened fragments of 
the wall, or reeking on the surface of the ruin, lay those 
who had been blown up in the explosion, their remains 
dreadfully mangled and discoloured, and strewed about 
amongst dissevered arms and legs, 

The 88th, or Connaught Rangers, had suffered most 
severely at this spot, and I observed a number of poor 
Irish women hopelessly endeavouring to distinguish the 
burnt features of their husbands. 

Though heartily sick of the morning's mournful peram- 
bulation, I yet felt anxious to see Captain Uniacke ; his 
remains lay on the suburbs, in a house next to that where 
those of our brave old General were stretched out. 
Several of the men of his company crowded about his 
person, hoping — for he was still living, and sensible — 
that he might yet return amongst us. But his arm had 
been torn from the socket, and he died some few days 
afterwards. 

Here let me pay a brief, though sincere tribute to his 
memory ; though young in years, he was gallant, daring, 
and just to all whom he commanded. 

During the Peninsular war our men had divided the 
officers into two classes ; the " come on," and the " go 
on ;" for as Tom Plunkett in action once observed to an 
officer, " The words ' go on' don't befit a leader, Sir." — 
To the honour of the service,, the latter, .with us Rifles, 
were exceedingly few in numbers. But amongst the former, 
none were seen so often in the van as Uniacke ; his affa- 
bility and personal courage had rendered him the idol of 
the men of his company. 



102 ADVENTURES OF 

A very small portion only of the troops that had taken 
Eodrigo were allowed to remain in the city, and our bat- 
talion, among others, were ordered back to their former 
quarters. The next morning as we marched over the 
bridge, dressed in all the varieties imaginable, some with 
jack-boots on, others with frock-coats, epaulettes, &c, and 
some with even monkeys on their shoulders, we met the 
fifth division on their way to repair the breach ; they im- 
mediately formed upon the left of the road, presented arms, 
and cheered us as we went along. 

I was afterwards told by several of our men that the 
Duke of Wellington, who saw us on our march, inquired of 
his staff, "Who the devil are those fellows ?" 

We entered El Bodon, with songs : and welcomed by 
the "vivas" of the inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Burial of General Crauford— Anecdote of Ladrone ! Lad rone !— Corporal Miles- 
Burial of Uniacke — A French seat of honour in jeopardy — A wolf ! a wolf ! — 
Deserters shot — Scene of execution — March to Castello de Vide across 
the Tagus— Execution of Corporal Arnal for desertion — Badajoz — A ma B 
dreaming of his head being off with his head on; singular fulfilment— Tom 
Crawley's dislike to conehology — His alarms — The Duke of Wellington saluted 
by the enemy — Remarkable feature of the case— A French curative or an ill- 
wind, &c. 

The second day after the storming of Rodrigo our 
brave General Crauford died of his wound, and the chief 
part of the officers of the Rifles went to pay the last 
tribute to his remains. He was borne to the grave by 
four Sergeant-Majors of his own division, and was buried 
in the breach where he fell. The Duke of Wellington 
attended the funeral of the gallant veteran ; who, though 
most strict in discipline, was averse to punishment, and 
was beloved by the men for his justice and care for them, 
as well as for his bravery. The following incident, 
of which I was an eye-witness, will serve to show his 
character. 

I happened to be on guard one day, when General 
Crauford came riding in from the front with his orderly 



A SOLDIER. 103 

dragoon, as was his usual custom, when two of our men, 
one of them a corporal, came running out of a house with 
some bread which they had stolen from the Spaniards ; 
they were pursued by a Spanish woman crying lustily, 
"Ladrone! Ladrone !" — thief! thief! They were imme- 
diately pursued by the General and his orderly ; the bread 
was given back to the woman, and the men were placed in 
the guard-house. The next day they were tried by a 
brigade court-martial, and brought out to a wood near the 
town for punishment. When the brigade was formed, and 
the Brigade-Major had finished reading the proceedings of 
the court-martial, General Crauford commenced lecturing 
both men and officers on the nature of their cruelty to the 
harmless inhabitants, as he called the Spaniards. He laid 
particular stress on our regiment, who, he said, committed 
more crimes than the whole of the British Army. " Be- 
sides, you think," said he, "because you are riflemen, and 
more exposed to the enemy's fire than other regiments, 
that you are to rob the inhabitants with impunity ; but, 
while I command you, you shall not :" then turning round 
to the corporal, who stood in the centre of the square, he 
said, with a stern voice, " Strip, Sir." 

The corporal, whose name was Miles, never said a word 
until tied up to a tree, when turning his head round as far 
as his situation would allow, and seeing the General pacing 
up and down the square, he said, " General Crauford, I 
hope you will forgive me." The General replied, "No, 
Sir, your crime is too great." The poor corporal, whose 
sentence was, to be reduced to the pay and rank of a pri- 
vate soldier, and to receive a punishment of one hundred 
and fifty lashes, and the other man two hundred, then 
then addressed the General to the following effect : 

"Do you recollect, Sir, when you and I were taken 
prisoners, when under the command of General Whitelock, 
in Buenos Ayres? We were marched prisoners, with a 
number of others, to a sort of pound surrounded with a 
wall. — There was a well in the centre, out of which I drew 
water with my mess-tin, by means of canteen straps, I col- 
lected from the men, who were prisoners like myself. — You 
sat on my knapsack ; I parted my last biscuit with you. 



104 ADVENTURES OF 

You then told me you would never forget my kindness to 
you. It is now in your power, Sir. You know how short 
we have been of rations for some time. 55 

These words were spoken by the corporal in a mild and 
respectful accent, which not only affected the General, but 
the whole square. The bugler, who stood waiting to com- 
mence the punishment close to the corporal, received the 
usual nod from the Bugle-Major to begin. The first lash 
the corporal received the General started, and turned 
hurriedly round, said, "What's that, what's that; who 
taught that bugler to flog ? Send him to drill — send him 
to drill ! He cannot flog — he cannot flog I Stop ! stop ! 
Take him down ! take him down ! I remember it well — I 
remember it well!" while he paced up and down the 
square, muttering to himself words that I could not catch ; 
at the same time blowing his nose, and wiping his face with 
his handkerchief, trying to hide the emotion that was so 
evident to the whole square. 

"While untying the corporal a dead silence prevailed for 
some time, until our ' gallant General recovered a little his 
noble feeling, when he uttered, with a broken accent, 
" "Why does a brave soldier like you commit these crimes ?" 
Then beckoning to his orderly to bring his horse, he 
mounted c and rode off. It is needless to say that the 
other 'man also was pardoned, and in a few days the cor- 
.poral was restored to his rank. On the death of Captain 
Uniacke, Captain Smith, now the celebrated Sir Harry 
Smith, was appointed Captain of my company. He being 
on the staff, his brother, Lieutenant Thomas Smith, now 
Barrack Master at Chatham, took command. 

On the fourth day, after we had taken the town, the 
company received orders to pay the last tribute to our 
Captain, Uniacke. We marched under the command of 
Lieutenant Smith, and arrived at Gallegos about twelve 
o'clock. The men having plenty of money, which they 
had obtained at Rodrigo, got drinking, and actually while 
conveying the body to the grave, stumbled under the 
weight of the coffin, and the lid not having been nailed 
down, out rolled the mangled remains of our brave Captain, 
to the consternation of a number of French officers, em 



A SOLDIER* 105 

parole (prisoners from Rodrigo). One more careless than 
the rest viewed the occurrence with a kind of malicious 
sneer, which so enraged our men, that one of them taking 
the little tawny-looking Italian by the nape of the neck, 
kicked his hind- quarters soundly for it. 

I could not, at the time, help remarking the very under- 
sized appearance of the Frenchmen. They were the 
ugliest set I ever saw, and seemed to be the refuse of their 
army, and looked more like Italians than Frenchmen. 

On our return to El Bodon, one of the men overpowered 
with liquor, laid himself down to sleep in the wood that 
separates the road from Gallegos. Poor fellow, it was his 
last sleep, for on the roll being called, a party was sent in 
search of him, and discovered his body under a tree, 
torn to pieces by the wolves, which greatly infested that 
part of Spain. 

I now have to relate one of those melancholy incidents 
peculiar to a soldier's life, that occurred while we remained 
at El Bodon. On taking Rodrigo we had captured, among 
others, ten men who had deserted from our division. 
These were condemned to be shot. The place of execution 
was on a plain near Ituera, where our division was drawn 
up, forming three sides of a square ; the culprits, as usual, 
being placed in front of a trench, dug for a grave, on the 
vacant side. 

Two of the deserters, the one a man of the same company 
as myself, named Hudson, and a very handsome fellow who 
had been persuaded into the rash step, were pardoned 
on the ground. The other a corporal, named Cummins, of 
the 52nd regiment, and who had been mainly instrumental, 
I believe, in getting the others to desert with him, was 
placed on the fatal ground in a wounded state. He had 
been particularly noticed at Rodrigo in one of the breaches, 
most actively employed, opposing our entrance, and cheer- 
ing on the besieged to resist us. This man was pardoned 
also. Why he was pardoned I cannot say. 

As this was the first military execution I had ever 
witnessed, I felt not a little curiosity to see the forms 
pursued. A large trench had been dug as a grave for the 
wretched men who were to suffer. Along the summit 



106 ADVENTURES OF 

of the little heap of mould that had been thrown up 
from the pit, the deserters were placed in a row, with their 
eyes bandaged, so that on receiving the fatal volley they 
should fall forward into the trench. Some of the poor 
fellows, from debility, were unable to kneel, and lay at 
their length, or crouched up into an attitude of despair, 
upon the loose earth. 

The signal to the firing party was given by a motion 
of the provost's cane, when the culprits were all hurried 
together into eternity, with the exception of one man 
of the 52nd, who, strange to say, remained standing and 
untouched. His countenance, that before had been deadly 
pale, now exhibited a bngh' flush. Perhaps he might 
have imagined himself pard >ned ; if so, however, he was 
doomed to be miserably deceived, as the following minute 
two men of the reserve came up and fired their pieces into 
his bosom, when giving a loud scream, that had a very 
horrible effect upon those near, he sprang forward into his 
grave. To prevent unnecessary suffering, a reserve firing 
party was brought up, who continued to fire wherever the 
slightest sign of life exhibited i f qY *n the bodies, the 
provost himself winding up the tragedy by discharging 
a pistol-shot through the head of each corpse. 

After this very solemn and impressive scene, we were 
r xrched in column of companies round the dead, so 
that the spectacle might be witnessed by every man in the 
division. 

About the 26th of February we broke up our canton- 
ments in the environs of Ciudad Rodrigo, and crossing the 
Tagus, marched southward for six or seven days, at the 
expiration of which, our division took up their quarters 
in and about the town of Castello de Vide. The country 
around the town was the most fruitful and luxuriant I had 
ever beheld. It was bounded with the most delightful 
hills and valleys, that produced in abundance the finest 
fruits, such as grapes, pomegranates, oranges, and lemons. 
As may be supposed, the men were delighted with such a 
paradise. The wine was so plentiful, that our fellows, 
while they remained here, made it an invariable custom to 
boil their meat in it. 



A SOLDIER. 10/ 

Another unhappy criminal was here deemed to pay the 
forfeit of the crime of desertion. When we took Rodrigo, 
he made his escape from the town, and on his way to join 
the French at Salamanca was captured by some of the 
Spanish troops, and brought back to the regiment a 
prisoner. The fate of this man (Arnal by name), who had 
been a corporal in our battalion, excited much commise- 
ration. I knew him well : he was an exceedingly fine- 
looking fellow, and up to the period of his unhappy 
departure from duty, noted for possessing the best qualities 
of a soldier. Some harshness on the part of an officer was 
the cause of Arnal* s desertion ; but from the circumstance 
of his previous good charact ^ and the fact of his having 
been marched as a prisoner fo. many days together during 
our march from Rodrigo, it Was commonly thought he 
would be pardoned. 

I happened to be on guard over him the night prior 
to his execution. In the evening the prisoner was playing 
at cards with some of the men, when the provost of 
the division entered the guard-room, and gave him the 
intelligence that he v\ as doomed to suffer at ten o'clock the 
next morning. 

Sudden and utterly unexpected as the announcement 
was, Arnal' s face was the only one that showed scarcelv 
any emotion. 

"Well/' he remarked to those around him, "lam 
quite ready/' 

A short time afterwards he sent for the pay- sergeant of 
the company he belonged to, from whom he received 
the arrears of pay that were due to him. This he spent on 
wine, which he distributed among the men of the guard. 
Noticing one man with very bad shoes, Arnal observed his 
own w r ere better, and taking them off he exchanged them 
for the bad pair, saying, "They will last me as long as 
I shall require them. 55 

The morning turned out showery, the division formed in 
three sides of a square, and the guard, headed by the band 
with Arnal in front, slowly marched round ; the muffled 
drum beat in dull time the " Dead March, 55 and the swell 
of its solemn harmony, though it filled the eyes of every 



108 ADVENTURES OF 

man present, only seemed to strengthen the glance of the 
doomed. He led the van of his funeral procession, like 
one who was to live for ever : his step was as firm and 
more correct than any, and I thought at the time, a finer 
soldier never stepped. Poor Arnal, I shall never forget 
when we halted at his own grave, the heavy rains had filled 
it half with water, which he noticed with a faint smile, and 
observed : 

" Although a watery one, I shall sleep sound enough in 
it." He then stood upright in a fine military position, 
while the Brigade-Major read aloud the proceedings of the 
court-martial. The provost came to tie the handkerchief 
round his eyes, when he coolly remarked, "There is no 
occasion — I shall not flinch." Being told it was customary, 
he said, "Very well, do your dnty." Before this last 
office was performed, he turned round, and calling most of 
the guard by name, bade them farewell. As I nodded to 
him in return, I fancied it was to a dead man, for in two 
minutes he was no more. The intrepid and cool manner 
in which he met his fate, drew forth a general feeling of 
admiration. 

A few days after the execution we marched for Badajoz, 
in the environs of which we arrived on the 1 7th of March. 
This celebrated city, of which so much has been said 
and written, stands on an extended plain equidistant three 
leagues from Elvas and Campo Mayor. The Guadiana 
which hereabouts forms the boundary between Spain and 
Portugal, flows on one side of the fortification, and con- 
nects with them by a bridge over its surface, one or two 
forts on the opposite banks. The fortress on all sides is 
surrounded by strong bastions to the number of thirteen 
or fourteen, which with trenches and other forts and out- 
works rendered it almost impregnable. In addition to these 
the Rivella a tributary stream to the Guadiana flowed 
round and through the trenches in our front. 

Our battalion on its arrival took up its encampment on 
the Spanish side of the river, where we occupied a small 
hill, and for the first time during our campaigns made use 
of small square tents, belonging to the Portuguese.. 

The first night of our arrival we commenced laying 



A SOLDIER, 109 

siege, by breaking ground within three or four hundred 
yards of the town, Fort St. Roch and Fort Pumena rather 
on oar left ; we lost a man named Brooks, whose death 
was connected with a very singular circumstance. 

Brooks several days before his death, dreamt he saw the 
body of a rifleman without a head : this apparition ap- 
peared three or four nights successively in his dreams. 
Some days after we had taken one of the forts from the. 
enemy, our battalion was relieved in the trenches. On 
this occasion, as was very customary with some of us, 
Brooks, another man named Tracey, and myself, jumped 
out of the trench, exposing ourselves to a fire from the 
walls of the town while we ran to the next parallel. In 
executing this feat I was a little ahead of my comrades, 
when I heard the rush of a cannon-ball, and feeling my 
jacket splashed by something, as soon as I had jumped 
into the next parallel, or trench, I turned round and 
beheld the headless body of Brooks which actually stood 
quivering with life for a few seconds before it fell. His 
dream, poor fellow ! had singularly augured the conclusion 
of his own career. The shot had smashed and carried 
away the whole of his head, bespattering my jacket with 
the brains, while Tracey was materially injured by having 
a splinter of the skull driven deep through the skin behind 
his ear. This circumstance is well known to several now 
living in London. 

About the 22nd of March, a party was ordered to pro- 
ceed to Elvas for the purpose of conducting some heavy 
artillery from that strong fortress for our own use against 
the walls of Badajoz ; after placing six or eight large guns 
on things resembling sledges, the weather being exceed- 
ingly wet, it took twelve bullocks to draw each gun. On 
arriving at the pontoon bridge that crosses the Guadiana 
river, which separates Badajoz from Elvas, a distance of 
about three leagues, the bridge was so damaged that the 
guns could not pass over, so we were obliged to bivouac for 
the night amongst a party of sappers, stationed there for 
the purpose of repairing the pontoons. 

After the bullocks were unharnessed, they began jump- 
ing and frisking about, to the no small amusement of our 



110 ADVENTURES OP 

men, but to their danger, as it afterwards proved. The 
French seeing the bullocks grazing, commenced firing on 
them, as well as occasionally sending a twenty-four-pounder 
at our little party then stationed on a rising ground, 
amusing ourselves at the random twenty-four-pound shots 
as they hopped about. At night, placing our advanced 
picquet near the town, the remainder of the party turned 
into the tents of the sappers for the night, but their 
slumbers were not so sound as they anticipated, for at the 
dead but not silent hour of night, a round-shot came 
whirling through one of the tents, striking the pole, and 
brought it down on those within. Their cries having 
awoke those of the adjoining tent, they immediately flew to 
their assistance, and having relieved them from this new- 
fashioned man-trap, rats never flew with more agility than 
did the poor sappers from their lair. I could not forbear 
laughing at the scene, although attended wdth bad conse- 
quences, as one man had his thigh broke, and another his 
leg taken off at the calf. While helping to raise the tents 
every eye was intent, looking out for another French 
visitor in the shape of a twenty-four-pounder, but the 
drollery of a countryman of mine gave some zest to their 
serenity ; instead of bolting like the rest, he coolly said, 
" Where the devil are you all scampering to ? Sure you 
don't think the French took aim ? I wished they did, 
for if they had, by Jasus they wouldn't hit our tent in a 
week ! You may be easy then, for they never hit twice in 
the same place." The two poor fellows thus dangerously 
wounded were comrades, and natives of Coventry, one 
named Green, and the other Gea. The next morning the 
sappers having put the pontoons to rights, the guns passed 
over, and we arrived safe at our own camp. 

The greatest annoyance we experienced during the siege 
arose from the shells thrown at us from the town. Our 
works effectually screened us from the round-shot ; but 
these dangerous missiles, falling into the trenches where we 
worked, and exploding, frequently did great mischief. 
Immediately a shell fell, every man threw himself flat 
upon the ground until it had burst. Tom Crawley, I re- 
member, though tolerably fearless with reference to other 



A SOLDIER. Ill 

shot, had a most inveterate dislike to those deadly visitors. 
His fears made him believe, that more of them were 
thrown where he chanced to be, than in any other part of 
the trenches. At night in particular, Tom was always on 
the qui vive : as soon as he beheld a shell coming he would 
call out, " Here's another brute — look out !" and instantly 
fall on his face. This, however, did not always protect us, 
for the head was no sooner on the ground, than its presence 
was again required, to watch the falling splinters. These, 
from their composing large portions of the metal of the 
missile, descended with great violence, and were sometimes 
of themselves sufficient to crush a man into the earth. 

Lord Wellington used occasionally to pay us a visit 
during the work, to make observations, and to examine the 
trenches, &c, 

One day when Crawley and myself were working near 
each other in the trenches, a shell fell inconveniently close 
to us. Tom was instantly half buried in mud, awaiting the 
explosion. Perceiving it had sunk itself deep into the 
earth, the fuse being too long, I intended availing myself 
of the opportunity, to play a trick upon Crawley, by 
throwing a large lump of clay on his head directly the 
shell exploded, and so make him believe himself wounded. 
To obtain the clod I sprang at the other side of the trench, 
but exposed myself to a shot from the walls of the town, 
which immediately came in the form of grape, splashing 
me with mud from head to foot, and forcing me to throw 
myself back into the trench upon Crawley, who, in his 
fears, made sure that a shell had fixed itself upon his rear, 
and roared like a bull ; in an instant, however, the sunken 
missile really burst ; on the smoke dispersing, who should 
I behold but the Duke himself, crouched down, his head 
half averted, drily smiling at Crawley and me. Shot and 
shell pay no respect to persons, but the enemy did, as they 
seemed awake to the near vicinity of his Grace, and poured 
in shells, grape, and canister, with other delicacies of the 
kind, with unusual liberality, whenever he came amongst 
us ; which they always appeared alive to. But the fact is, 
the Duke, like his renowned contemporary, had a remark- 



112 ADVENTURES OF 

able cast of feature, which made him ever distinguishable, 
at an almost incredible distance. 

Before I go further into my narrative I must detail an 
anecdote of Major O'Hare, my old Captain, who was noted 
for his excellent soldierly qualities. 

We were on private parade one morning, when a party 
of convalescents from hospital came up. Among others 
was a sergeant of the name of Jackson, who had been 
absent from our company for the two previous years, during 
which period it would seem, he had been chiefly employed 
as hospital-sergeant at Belem, near Lisbon. 

The Major's aversion to absentees from the regiment 
was very well known among us, and we anticipated a scene 
— nor were we deceived. 

tc Is that you, Mr. Sergeant Jackson ?" exclaimed the 
Major, as soon as the party came up. "And pray 
where, in God's name, have you been for the last two 
years ? The company have seen a little fighting during 
that period." 

" The doctors would not allow me to leave the hospital, 
Sir," replied Jackson. 

" I am sorry for that," drily observed the Major. " All 
that I can do for you is, to give you your choice of a court- 
martial for absenting yourself from duty without leave, or 
to have your stripes taken off." 

The sergeant, after a little hesitation, preferred surrender- 
ing quietly his non-commissioned dignity to standing an 
inquiry into his conduct. 

Turning round to the men, the Major remarked aloud, 
" By God, I will not have these brave fellows commanded 
by skulkers." Then taking the sash and stripes that were 
cut off by the Sergeant-Major, he handed them to Corporal 
Ballard, observing at the same time, " You will not dis- 
grace them." 

A very disagreeable duty, that usually fell upon a few of 
the best shots of the battalion, consisted in being obliged 
to run out, in independent files, to occupy a number of 
holes, that had been dug at night between our batteries 
and the walls of the town. From these pits, of which 



A SOLDIER. 113 

each man had one to himself, our particular business was 
to pick off any of the enemy who exposed themselves #t 
their guns, on the walls through the embrasures. Many a 
Frenchman was thus knocked off by us. But it often 
occurred also that our men were killed or wounded in their 
holes, which made it doubly dangerous for the man of the 
relieving party, who, instead of finding a ready covering, 
perceived it occupied by a wounded or dead man. Before 
he could get a shelter therefore or remove the body, there 
was a great chance of his being shot. 

While employed in this duty in front of our batteries, 
the tremendous noise made by artillery in both front and 
rear was attended at first by a most unpleasant effect, as it 
destroyed the sense of hearing for some hours after leaving 
the trenches. It was amusing, during the siege, to observe 
the motions of our artillerymen. They were employed 
almost incessantly, and their duties most arduous, as the 
batteries were the chief object for the aim of the enemy's 
shot and shells. An artilleryman was always stationed as 
a sort of signal-man, to give notice of the appearance of 
either of these missiles, and it was remarkable to observe 
the quickness with which the men at the guns, on the 
word " shell," would throw themselves on the ground for 
protection. 

It not unfrequently happened that parties of men were 
sent out in independent files to pick up the dismembered 
legs, arms, &c, which sometimes might be seen scattered 
about by the bursting shells. This precaution was thought 
necessary to prevent any ill-effect their appearance might 
cause on the courage of the Portuguese, who were quite as 
likely to put the heels in motion as their heads. 

On one of these occasions I remember observing a party 
of those gentlemen, after leaving the trenches, carrying 
across the fields to their camp ground the body of a 
wounded officer of theirs wrapped in a blanket. They had 
not proceeded many yards, before a ball fired from the 
town came bounding, half spent, along the ground. The 
Portuguese, unconscious of its approach, were just crossing 
the line of its progress, when the shot glanced between 
them, and entering the blanket, cut the unlucky officer in 

i 



114 ADVENTURES OF 

two. The bearers, terrified, immediately took to their 
heels, leaving the blanket behind them, which one of our 
fellows observing, "That it was an ill wind that did 
nobody good," shaking the body out, instantly possessed 
himself of. 

The effect of our twenty-four pound shot upon the wall 
gave notice that the breaches would soon be practicable. 
On the 5 th of April a storming party was selected for the 
assault on the following night. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Storming of Badajoz — I join the Forlorn-Hope again — Presentiments of Major 
O'Hare and Captain Jones— Their deaths — The stormers — The Ladder-men — 
I am wounded — The French prisoner— O'Brien — Sacking of the town— Scene 
of horror— Reflections— The Duke of Wellington and his men— Johnny Castles 
introduced with a rope round his neck — The drummer-boy— A firelock goes 
off, and so does a Corporal — I'return to the camp — Casualties at Badajoz — 
The French prisoner and a new acquaintance — His account of the evacuation 
of Almeida— His opinion of the British soldiers. 

I am now about entering into a personal narrative of one 
of the most sanguinary and awful engagements on the 
records of any country. For the second time I volunteered 
on the forlorn-hope. After having received a double 
allowance of grog, we fell in about eight o'clock in the 
evening, 6th April, 1812. The stormers were composed 
of men from the different regiments of the light division. 
I happened to be on the right of the front section when 
my old Captain, Major O'Hare, who commanded the wing 
to which my company belonged, came up with Captain 
Jones of the 52nd regiment, both in command of the 
storming party. A pair of uglier men never walked 
together, but a brace of better soldiers never stood before 
the muzzle of a Frenchman's gun. 

"Well, O'Hare," said the Captain, " what do you think 
of to-night's work?" 

" I don't know," replied the Major, who seemed, as I 
thought, in rather low spirits. <( To-night, I think, will 
be my last." 

" Tut, tut, man ! I have the same sort of feeling, but I 



A SOLDIER. 115 

keep it down with a drop of the cratur" answered the 
Captain, as he handed his calabash to the Major. 

A Sergeant Fleming, a brave soldier, before mentioned 
in these Memoirs, coming up, informed Major O'Hare that 
a ladder-party was wanted. "Take the right files of the 
leading sections," was the prompt order of the Major. 
No sooner said than done. I and my front-rank men 
were immediately tapped on the shoulder for the ladder- 
party. I now gave up all hope of ever returning. At Ro- 
drigo, as before stated, we had fatigue parties for the 
ladders, but now the case was altered ; besides which 
the ladders, now in preparation, were much longer than 
those employed at that fortress. 

I may just mention, that whatever were my own fore- 
bodings on the occasion, the presentiments of our brave old 
Major O'Hare and those of Captain Jones were fatally 
realized, for in less than twenty minutes after the above 
conversation, both fell riddled with balls. 

The word was now given to the ladder-party to move 
forward. We were accompanied at each side by two men 
with hatchets to cut down any obstacle that might oppose 
them, such as chevaux-de-frise. There were six of us 
supporting the ladder allotted to me, and I contrived to 
carry my grass-bag before me.* We had proceeded but a 
short distance when we heard the sound of voices on our 
right, upon which we halted, and supposing they might be 
enemies, I disengaged myself from the ladder, and cocking 
my rifle, prepared for action. Luckily we soon discovered 
our mistake, as one of our party cried — " Take care ! 'Tis 
the stormers of the fourth division coming to join us." This 
proved to be the case. This brief alarm over, we continued 
advancing towards the walls, the Rifles, as before, keeping 
in front. We had to pass Fort St. Roche on our left, near 
to the town, and as we approached it the French sentry 
challenged. This was instantly followed by a shot from 

* Grass-bags are long sacks about six feet by three, filled with grass or hay, 
and so stuffed as to enable a party,, in case the ladders should not be fixed in 
sufficient time, by pitching them into the trenches before them to descend with 
comparative safety. With us, however, they answered a double purpose, being 
carried by our men in front of their persons to prevent the effects of the enemy's 
fire. 

i 2 



116 ADVENTURES OF 

the fort and another from the walls of the town. A 
moment afterwards, a fire-ball was thrown out, which 
threw a bright red glare of light around us, and instantly 
a volley of grape-shot, canister, and small arms poured in 
among us, as we stood on the glacis, at a distance of about 
thirty yards from the walls. 

Three of the men carrying the ladder with me were 
shot dead in a breath, and its weight falling upon me, I 
fell backwards with the grass-bag on my breast. The 
remainder of the stormers rushed up, regardless of my 
cries, or those of the wounded men around me, for by this 
time our men were falling fast. Many in passing were shot 
and fell upon me, so that I was actually drenched in blood. 
The weight I had to sustain became intolerable, and had it 
not been for the grass-bag which in some measure protected 
me, I must have been suffocated. At length, by a strong 
effort, I managed to extricate myself, in doing which I left 
my rifle behind me, and drawing my sword, rushed towards 
the breach. There I found four men putting a ladder 
down the ditch ; and not daring to pause, fresh lights being 
still thrown out of the town, with a continual discharge of 
musketry, I slid quickly down the ladder, but before I 
could recover my footing, was knocked down again by the 
bodies of men who were shot in attempting the descent. 
I, however, succeeded in extricating myself from under- 
neath the dead, and rushing forward to the right, to my 
surprise and fear I found myself emerged to my neck in 
water. Until then I was tolerably composed, but now all 
reflection left me, and diving through the water, being a 
good swimmer, gained the other side, but lost my sword; I 
now attempted to make to the breach, which the blaze of 
musketry from the walls clearly showed me. Without 
rifle, sword, or any other weapon, I succeeded in clamber- 
ing up a part of the breach, and came near to a chevaux-de- 
frise, consisting of a piece of heavy timber studded with 
sword-blades, turning on an axis : but just before reaching 
it I received a stroke on the breast, whether from a 
grenade or a stone, or by the butt-end of a musket, I 
cannot say, but down I rolled senseless, and drenched with 
water and human gore. I could not have laid long in this. 



A SOLDIER. 117 

plight, for when my senses had in some measure returned, 
I perceived our gallant fellows still rushing forward, each 
seeming to share a fate more deadly than my own. The 
fire continued in one horrible and incessant peal, as if the 
mouth of the infernal regions had opened to vomit forth 
destruction upon all around us, and this was rendered still 
more appalling by the fearful shouts of the combatants 
and cries of the wounded that mingled in the uproar. 

I now, strange to say, began to feel if my arms and legs 
were entire : for at such moments a man, I believe, is not 
always aware of his wounds. I had now, indeed, lost all 
the frenzy of courage that had first possessed me, and 
actually felt all weakness and prostration of spirit, while I 
endeavoured, among the dead and wounded bodies around 
me, to screen myself from the enemy's shot; but while I 
lay in this position, the fire still continued blazing over me 
in all its horrors, accompanied by screams, groans, and 
shouts, and the crashing of stones and falling of timbers. 
I now, for the first time for many years, uttered something 
like a prayer. 

After the horrible and well-known scene of carnage had 
lasted some time, the fire gradually slackened from the 
breach, T heard a cheering which I knew to proceed from 
within the town, and shortly afterwards a cry of " Blood 
and 'ounds ! where' s the Light Division? — the town's our 
own — hurrah !" This proceeded, no doubt, from some of 
the third division. I now attempted to rise, but, from a 
wound which I had received, but at what time I know not, 
found myself unable to stand. A musket-ball had passed 
through the lower part of my right leg — two others had 
perforated my cap, which I should have lost had I not 
taken the precaution to secure it with a cord under my chin 
before starting. At the moment of this discovery I saw 
two or three men moving towards me, who I was glad to 
find belonged to the Rifles. One of them, named O'Brien, 
of the same company as myself, immediately exclaimed, 
" What ! is that you, Ned ? — we thought you ladder-men 
all done for." He then assisted me to rise. 

In consequence of the ehevaux-de-frise still remaining 
above the breach, we could not proceed over it until more 
men arrived to remove its fastenings. The third division 



118 ADVENTURES OF 

meanwhile had entered the town on our right by the castle 
where there was no breach. We proceeded onwards, I 
moving with great difficulty, though partly supported by 
O'Brien. At the top of the breach we found another 
trench with a plank of wood lain across, leading into the 
town. Not until then I felt drops of blood trickling down 
my face, and found that one of the balls, in passing through 
my cap, had torn the skin on my head. 

In this crippled state, leaning upon my comrade, and 
using his rifle as a crutch, accompanied by a few of our 
riflemen, I entered the town that had been so gloriously 
won. We hurried from the breach as quick as possible, 
lest the enemy should spring a mine, as they did at 
Ciudad Rodrigo. We still however heard occasional firing 
and cheering from the one end of the town, and imagined 
the fire was still raging, although, as we soon afterwards 
learnt, the chief part of the French had retired to the 
citadel or fort, where they surrendered on the following 
morning. Angry and irritated from the pain occasioned 
by the wound, we had just turned the corner of a street, 
when we observed some men, and, from the light that 
shone from a window opposite, we could see from their 
uniforms they were evidently Frenchmen. The moment 
they saw us they disappeared, with the exception of one 
man, who seemed to make a rush at us with his musket. 
O'Brien sprang forward and wrested the firelock from his 
grasp. A feeling of revenge, prompted by the suffering 
I endured from my wounds, actuated my feelings, and I 
exclaimed, " O'Brien, let me have the pleasure of shooting 
this rascal, for he may be the man who has brought me to 
the state I am now in !" I then presented the rifle close 
to his breast, with the full intention of shooting him 
through the body, but as my finger was about to press the 
trigger he fell upon his knees and implored mercy. The 
next moment the rifle dropped from my hand, and I felt a 
degree of shame that a feeling of irritation should have 
nearly betrayed me into the commission of a crime for 
which I could never have forgiven myself. 

As soon as the Frenchman perceived me desist, he 
immediately started from his knees, and, by way of show- 
ing his gratitude, threw his arms round my neck, and 



A SOLDIER. 119 

kissed my cheek. He instantly followed me, and I for the 
time took him under my protection. 

We now looked anxiously around for a house where we 
could obtain refreshment, and, if truth must be told, a 
little money. For even wounded as I was, I had made up 
my mind to be a gainer by our victory. At the first house 
we knocked at, no notice being taken of the summons, we 
fired a rifle-ball at the key -hole, which sent the door flying 
open. This, indeed, was our usual method of forcing 
locks. As soon as we entered the house we found a young 
Spanish woman crying bitterly, and praying for mercy. 
She informed us that she was the wife of a French officer ; 
and to the demand of my companion, O'Brien, for refresh- 
ment, replied there was nothing but her poor self in the 
house. She, however, produced some spirits and chocolate, 
both of which, being very hungry and faint, I partook 
of with much relish. 

As the house looked poor we soon quitted it in quest of 
a better. Supported by O'Brien and the Frenchman, we 
proceeded in the direction of the market-place. It was a 
dark night, and the confusion and uproar that prevailed in 
the town may be better imagined than described. The 
shouts and oaths of drunken soldiers in quest of more 
liquor, the reports of fire-arms and crashing in of doors, 
together with the appalling shrieks of hapless women, 
might have induced any one to have believed himself in 
the regions of the damned. 

When we arrived at the market-place we found a num- 
ber of Spanish prisoners rushing out of a gaol: they 
appeared like a set of savages suddenly let loose, many 
still bearing the chains they had not time to free them- 
selves from, and among these were men of the 5th and 
88th regiments holding lighted candles. We then turned 
down a street opposite to the foregoing scene, and entered 
a house which was occupied by a number of men of the 
third division. One of them immediately, on perceiving 
me wounded, struck off the neck of a bottle of wine with 
his bayonet, and presented it to me, which relieved me for 
a time from the faintness I had previously felt. The 
scenes of wickedness that soldiers are guilty of on cap- 



120 ADVENTURES OF 

turing a town are oftentimes truly diabolical, and I now, in 
the reflections this subject gives rise to, shudder at the 
past. I had not long been seated at the fire which was 
blazing up the chimney, fed by mahogany chairs broken 
up for the purpose, when I heard screams for mercy from 
an adjoining room. On hobbling in, I found an old man, 
the proprietor of the house, on his knees, imploring mercy 
of a soldier who had levelled his musket at him. I with 
difficulty prevented the man from shooting him, as he 
complained that the Spaniard would not give up his money. 
I immediately informed the wretched landlord in Spanish, 
as well as I was able, that he could only save his life by 
surrendering his cash. Upon this he brought out with 
trembling hands, a large bag of dollars from under the 
mattress of the bed. These by common consent were 
immediately divided among us. The whole treasure, to 
the amount of about one hundred or one hundred and fifty 
dollars, enveloped in an old night-cap, was instantly 
emptied and divided into small heaps on the table, accord- 
ing to the number of men present, and called out the same 
as messes in a barrack-room. I must confess that I par- 
ticipated in the plunder, and received about twenty-six 
dollars for my own share. 

As soon as I had resumed my seat at the fire, a number 
of Portuguese soldiers entered, one of whom, taking me 
for a Frenchman, for I had the French soldier's jacket on, 
my own being wet, snapped his piece at me, which luckily 
hung fire. Forgetful of my wounds, I instantly rushed at 
him, and a regular scuffle ensued between our men and the 
Portuguese, until one of the latter being stabbed by a 
bayonet, the rest retired, dragging the wounded man with 
them. After thus ejecting the Portuguese, the victors, 
who had by this time got tolerably drunk, proceeded to 
ransack the house. Unhappily they discovered the two 
daughters of the old patrone, who had concealed them- 
selves up stairs. They both were young and very pretty. 
The mother, too, was shortly afterwards dragged from her 
hiding-place. 

Without dwelling on the frightful scene that followed, 
it may be sufficient to add, that our men, more infuriated 



A SOLDIER. 121 

by drink than before, again seized upon the old man, and 
insisted upon a fresh supply of liquor. And his protes- 
tations that he possessed no more were as vain as were all 
attempts to restrain them from ill-using him. 

It is to be lamented that the memory of an old soldier 
should be disturbed by such painful reflections as the 
foregoing scenes must give rise to : but it is to be con- 
sidered that the men who besiege a town in the face of 
such dangers, generally become desperate from their own 
privations and sufferings ; and when once they get a footing 
within its walls — flushed by victory, hurried on by the 
desire of liquor, and maddened by drink, they stop at 
nothing : they are literally mad, and hardly conscious of 
what they do in such a state of excitement. I do not 
state this in justification ; I only remark what I have 
observed human nature to be on these occasions. 

Sick of the scene of horrors that had been enacted, and 
attended by my French prisoner, I left the house for one 
on the other side of the street. This was found occupied 
by men of the third division, who were drinking chocolate, 
not made with water, but wine. They seemed rather more 
sober and peaceable than those we had just left ; but here, 
also, as in most of the houses in Badajoz, the greatest 
outrages were being committed. 

Having passed a wretched night, the next morning I 
determined to rejoin what remained of my regiment — for 
at this time I did not know what number we had lost. 
I left the house, and proceeded to trace my road through 
the crowds, accompanied by my Frenchman, who rendered 
me every assistance in his power. The town was still in 
great confusion and uproar, although every available means 
had been taken to suppress it. In one of the streets I saw 
the Duke of Wellington, surrounded by a number of 
British soldiers, who, holding up bottles with the heads 
knocked off, containing wine and spirits, cried out to him, 
a phrase then familiarly applied to him by the men of the 
army, " Old boy ! will you drink ? The town's our own 
— hurrah !" In another street I observed a sort of gallows 
erected, with three nooses hanging from them, ready for 
service. Johnny Castles, a man of our company, and as 



122 ADVENTURES OF 

quiet and inoffensive a little fellow as could be, but rather 
fond of a drop, but not that distilled by Jack Ketch & Co., 
had a near escape. He was actually brought under the 
gallows in a cart, and the rope placed round his neck, but 
his life was spared. Whether this was done to frighten 
him or not I cannot say ; but the circumstance had such 
an effect on him, that he took ill, and was a little deranged 
for some time after. I am not aware that a single execu- 
tion took place, notwithstanding the known severity of the 
Duke in matters of plunder and outrage. I feel bound to 
say, that a prejudice existed on the part of our men against 
the inhabitants of Badajoz, owing to their having sub- 
mitted so tamely to the French. It was different at 
Ciudad Rodrigo, where the Spaniards had defended them- 
selves gallantly. 

Feeling fatigued on my way to join the camp, I sat down 
with my prisoner on a bench, opposite the bridge which 
leads to Fort St. Christoval. We not had been long 
seated when I was amused by a large baboon, surrounded 
by a number of soldiers, who were tormenting him. The 
poor animal had been wounded in the foot, probably by 
one of our men, and by his chattering, grinning, and droll 
gesticulations, he showed as much aversion to the red 
coats as any of the French could possibly have done. 
While the men continued teasing the animal, a servant, 
stating that it belonged to a Colonel of the 4th regiment, 
who he said was wounded, attempted to take the beast 
away, whereupon the party being divided in their senti- 
ments, a scuffle ensued, in which several men were wounded 
with bayonets. 

As we got up to proceed, we saw a number of French- 
men guarded by our soldiers, coming over the bridge. 
They were the prisoners taken in Fort St. Christoval, 
which but an hour or two previously had surrendered. 
These were soon surrounded by our men, who began 
examining their knapsacks, from whence a number of 
watches, dollars, &c, were quickly extracted. A short 
distance further on we came up with a mule, tied to a 
door, which, in my crippled state, and wishing to relieve 
my poor prisoner, I immediately appropriated for my own 



A SOLDIER. 123 

use, but I afterwards sold it to Lieutenant Jackson, of the 
83rd regiment. Mounted on the animal, led by the 
Frenchman, we pursued our way until near the gates that 
led to the camp, when rather an affecting scene came under 
my eye. A little fellow, a drummer-boy, belonging to the 
88th regiment, was lying wounded and crying bitterly, his 
leg being broken by a shot. On telling him I would get 
him carried by the Frenchman if he wished, (i Oh no ! — 
oh no !" said the boy ; " I don't care for myself. Look 
at my poor father, where he lies !" pointing to a man shot 
through the head, lying weltering in a gore of blood. 
Poor little fellow ! I gave him a couple of dollars, and 
called some men to his assistance, when I was compelled to 
leave him. We soon arrived at the camp ground of the 
third division. I dismounted, and while sitting on one of 
the men's knapsacks, a soldier of the 83rd regiment was 
engaged in cleaning his firelock, when the piece went off 
and shot a corporal through the head, wounding also the 
hand of another man. The Frenchman seemed dreadfully 
frightened : he turned pale as marble, perhaps thinking 
the shot was aimed at him, as the corporal fell dead at his 
side. This accident struck me as a forcible instance of the 
casualties that attend a soldier's life. I could not, indeed, 
help feeling for the poor corporal, who after surviving the 
dangers of the preceding night, had lost his life by a 
clumsy hand cleaning a firelock. 

It may appear strange that I did not wish to remain in 
Badajoz, but I was suffering from my wound, and preferred 
the quiet of the camp. We had no sooner arrived there 
than I was obliged to part with my faithful Frenchman, 
who was sent to join the other prisoners. I gave him a 
few dollars, which most likely he was deprived of before 
he got many yards. He left me with many expressions of 
gratitude for the protection I had afforded him. 

I have been in many actions, but I never witnessed such 
a complication of horrors as surrounded me on the forlorn- 
hope at Badajoz. 

I remained three days in camp before there was a 
possibility of my being conveyed into the hospital at 
Badajoz, during which I had an opportunity of hearing of 



124 ADVENTURES OF 



the casualties that occurred. The number of men killed* 
wounded, and absent was such, that the company could 
not muster a dozen men on parade for three days after- 
wards. Parties were sent to the breaches to bury the dead, 
which now began to smell most dreadfully ; but we could 
not collect men enough to perform that duty. My poor 
old Captain, Major O'Hare, was amongst the slain, and had 
received not less than ten or a dozen balls through his 
body. 

"While in hospital, here as in other places, we were inter- 
mingled with the French prisoners who, sick and wounded, 
were placed indiscriminately in the wards with the British. 
In that in which I myself lay, and in the next bed, 
there was a smart young fellow, a Frenchman, with whom 
I became intimately acquainted. Indeed, he could speak 
a little English, which he had acquired during a short stay 
as prisoner in England, whence he had been exchanged to 
be again captured. He was recovering fast from a gun- 
shot wound he had received in his shoulder. 

During one of our evening chats, he gave me an account 
of his escape from Almeida, which he had assisted in 
defending, and afterwards in blowing up and evacuating. 

" A few evenings," said he, "previous to our determi- 
nation to evacuate the fortress, an officer from Massena 
entered the town, under the disguise of a peasant, with 
orders to the Governor to undermine and blow up the 
walls, and cut his way with the garrison through the 
British lines. The distresses of the besieged had been so 
excessive, that the message was received with delight. We 
had seen and felt innumerable hardships, and had been so 
reduced by famine, as to have been obliged, for food, to 
slaughter even the horses and mules. On receipt of the 
order, General Bernier, who commanded, and who had 
already escaped from the British, he having broken his 
parole while prisoner with the English some years before, 
was even more anxious than ourselves, as he well knew had 
he been retaken, in all probability he would have been 
shot. In our dilemmas, he drew from us an oath to die or 
effect our purpose. As a first step, we were for several 
days employed undermining the walls, which were soon 



A SOLDIER. 125 

hollowed and loaded in fourteen different places, all com- 
municating with each other by trains of gunpowder. 

" The evening of the evacuation, the whole garrison, to 
the number of seven or eight hundred men, after destroying 
the stores and spiking the guns, assembled in one of the 
squares and at about midnight slowly moved through the 
gates. The first to oppose our progress was a picquet of 
Portuguese, whom we bayoneted in an instant, and just as 
the mines commenced exploding — a low grumbling, as if of 
an earthquake, followed, and in a few seconds the whole 
citadel rose, as it were, in the air, and descended in 
shivered and blackened masses. The noise of the ex- 
plosion brought the whole British division to their arms, 
and our forlorn body dashed through your closing columns. 
The moment was desperate, but starved as we were, the 
French soldiers gained new strength from each reverse, and 
despite the well-fed numbers of the British, cut their way 
through the living wall, and gained the approach to San 
Felice. Here the inequalities of the ground fortunately 
and effectually kept off your cavalry, and after a few more 
trifling encounters, we reached the grand army. We had 
no sooner armed within hail of our comrades than the 
whole locality rung with one universal shout of enthusiasm. 
Our General was carried about on the men's shoulders, and 
the day became one of joy throughout the camp." 

The relation was given in the most spirited manner, just 
as we might expect it from a soldier of the Emperor, whose 
very name took the place of every other feeling. He spoke 
also of Marshal Ney, who in his estimation was second only 
to Napoleon. 

The foregoing, and many others equally entertaining, 
but which the lapse of years have blotted from my memory, 
he would relate to me, generally finishing his relations with, 
"Eh bien, c'est egal, les ecoliers sont dignes de leurs 
maitres. Les Francais vous ont enseignes de terribles 
lecons, et vous comprenez enfin Tart de faire la guerre 
comme il faut." Well, well, it is all the same ; the 
pupils are worthy of their teachers. The French have 
taught you some terrible lessons, and you understand, at 
length, the art of making war as it is — as it should be. 



126 ADVENTURES OF 



CHAPTER XVI. 

I recover from my wounds and rejoin my regiment at Ituera — " Nine holes*' — 
March for Salamanca— Sergeant Battersby — The grenadier and the murder of 
his wife, &c, &c. — Marmont out- manoeuvred— Assault of Fort St. Vincent — 
Retreat of the enemy — We arrive at Rueda — The wine-vaults — My descent 
into one — Fright, &c. — Manoeuvring of the two armies— Skirmishing — A gal- 
lant Frenchman — Pratt and his prisoner. 

Having recovered from my wounds, I left the hospital 
and rejoined my regiment at Ituera, near Ciudad Rodrigo. 
An unfortunate accident here occurred to one of our men. 
He was playing at a game called " nine holes" with several 
comrades, and was bowling along the ground a grenade, 
used instead of a wooden-ball, believing it to have been 
filled with earth only, when a spark from his pipe fell 
into the hole, and instantly exploded, wounding him dread- 
fully. The poor fellow never recovered the injuries he 
received. 

A short time after I had rejoined, our division marched 
for Salamanca. 

On our first day's march we encamped in a wood, on the 
right side of the road, leading to that city. The evening 
was beautiful, and the sun having lost its meridian heat, 
imparted a refreshing warmth to the wearied soldiers. 
The camp was all astir for some time — every one being 
busily engaged cooking and preparing for the night's com- 
fort ; which being completed, the eve found us mostly 
seated and scattered about in small groups, earnestly intent 
on enjoyment of some sort. I am particular in my recol- 
lection of the time, for reasons which the following occur- 
rence will sufficiently account for. 

I had finished my evening's meal, and was sitting drink- 
ing a tot of wine, with a sergeant of ours named Battersby, 
who a few days previously had rejoined us from Belem, 
where he had been some time appointed hospital-sergeant. 
He brought with him a very pretty-looking Englishwoman, 
that passed for his wife, and who was present with us, and 
assisted much to keep up the spirit of our conversation. 
We had been seated for some time under the branches of 



A SOLDIER. 127 

a clump of cork trees, of which, indeed, the wood was 
principally composed, when we were interrupted by some 
of the men calling for Sergeant Battersby, and in a second, 
or so, up marched a tall, fine-looking grenadier of the 6 1 st 
Regiment of Foot, then belonging to the sixth division, 
which lay encamped some two or three miles in our rear ; 
as he approached, however, he did not notice us, but cast- 
ing sundry determined glances about him, more in anguish 
than ferocity, he drew near the woman, and seated himself 
on a knapsack near her. The latter, from the moment 
he had first made his appearance, I had perceived, seemed 
wondrously confused, and changed colour several times. 

"Nelly," said he, fixing a firm and deliberate look on 
her, his voice at first scarcely articulate with emotion, 
" Nelly, why do you treat me so ? how can you stoop," 
and here he cast an almost contemptuous glance of recog- 
nition on Battersby, " how can you stoop to such a dis- 
graceful, so dishonourable a protection ?" 

"I am with those," said she, rather snappishly, "who 
know better how to treat me than you." 

"That," rejoined the grenadier, " may be your opinion ; 
but why leave the child, it is but three years old, and what 
can I do with it ?" 

To this she made no answer. 

" Do not think," he again continued, " that I wish you 
to return me, that is impossible. But I cannot help my 
feelings !" 

This was only replied to by reproaches ; which I did not 
listen to, for as it was no business of mine I turned to con- 
verse with my companions. 

The grenadier, at last, made a move to take his de- 
parture, and his wife, for such she evidently was, had 
agreed to accompany him a little of the way, and they 
walked together. I did not know how to account for it, 
but there was a certain uneasiness attended me, which had 
kept me, as it were, on their trail all the evening ; and 
Battersby and myself followed in their rear. They had 
proceeded a few hundred yards, and were some distance in 
advance, when she turned to wish him good- night. The 
poor fellow paused again, as if in deep thought, fixing on 



128 ADVENTURES OF 

her the same cool, deliberate look that he had exhibited all 
the evening. 

" So you are determined, Nelly/' said he at length, "to 
continue this way of living ?" 

" Yes," said she. 

" Well, then," he exclaimed, holding her firmly by the 
left hand, which she had extended for him to shake, while 
he drew his bayonet with his right, " take that," and he 
drove it right through her body. The blow was given 
with such force that it actually tripped him over her, and 
both fell, the bayonet still sticking in her side. The poor 
woman gave a convulsive scream, and in a moment expired. 
The grenadier bounded instantly on his feet again, and 
stamping one foot on the body of his victim, jerked forth 
the bayonet reeking with her blood. Wheeling himself 
round on his heel, the fatal weapon tightly clutched in his 
right hand, his eyes instantaneously caught the direction 
Battersby had taken, and he flew after him with the 
speed and countenance of a fiend, to wreak a second ven- 
geance. 

The sergeant fortunately arrived in the camp in time 
enough to call out the rear-guard, who, of course, were 
instantly on the alarm to meet him. The grenadier no 
sooner beheld him in safety than he stopped, and casting a 
half contemptuous smile towards the body of his dead wife, 
wiped the bayonet through his fingers, returned it to the 
scabbard, and drawing himself to his full height, calmly 
awaited the approach of the guard. When brought before 
the Colonel, he said in a rough and manly tone of voice, 
while he extended his arm towards his wife, " I have done 
the deed, but sorry her seducer has escaped." 

He was afterwards brought to a court-martial, and sen- 
tenced to three months' solitary confinement. But he 
suffered for one month only, when, as I suppose, in con- 
sideration of his case, he was ordered to return to his 
regiment. I have since been informed that he was shot in 
one of the actions on the Pyrennees. He certainly was a 
fine-looking fellow, and by name Bryen. 

As for Nelly, we buried her that very night near the 
spot where she fell, having dug her grave with the same 



A SOLDIER. 129 

kind of weapon as that by which she had been deprived of 
life. 

It was rather strange that Battersby was not noticed, but 
still held his rank. It is also as curious, that he was the 
second man I saw fall at the battle of Quatre Bras, on the 
16th June, 1815, being shot by a musket-ball through the 
head. 

On our arrival at Salamanca, we took up our position to 
the right of that city, near the river Tormes. 

Here w r e remained for some clays, our chief having com- 
pletely out-manceuvred Marmont. On the evening of the 
4th of July stormers were required from our division, to 
lead in the assault on Fort St. Vincent, the strongest of 
the three forts that the enemy had constructed in the city, 
and which commanded the other two ; two men from each 
company of our regiment were selected, the first for duty. 
After marching the men down close to the fort, w r aiting 
the signal for attack, they were countermanded. A few 
days afterwards this fort was set on fire by red-hot shot 
from our artillery, when it immediately surrendered, along 
with the two others. 

The enemy, baffled in their views on Salamanca, slowly 
retreated, our army following until we arrived near Rueda. 
Here our light troops had a smart brush with their rear- 
guard, which ended in the capture of some few French 
prisoners. I remember seeing on this occasion a party of 
the Rifles bringing in a very fine-looking man, a French 
sergeant, who seemed inconsolable at his capture. He 
actually shed tears as he lamented the circumstance. The 
following day, however, to his infinite joy, he was exchanged 
for a sergeant of our cavalry, who also had been made pri- 
soner a few days before. 

After this skirmish, our regiment advanced to the neigh- 
bourhood of Rueda, where we occupied a hill, completely 
covered with vines, and close to the town. The country 
thereabouts abounded in grapes, from which an immense 
quantity of wine was annually made. The places used for 
the making of wine in this part of Spain are of a very 
singular description. They are all subterranean, and of 
immense extent, sometimes undermining many acres of 

K 



130 ADVENTURES OF 

ground. Over these are chimneys constructed to admit 
the air and light. The vats, into* which the juice of the 
grape is pressed, are in proportion to the size of the vaults, 
and would entirely put to shame the same description of 
receptacle used for beer by Barclay and Perkins. 

Our fellows, ever alive to the value of good liquor, not- 
withstanding the French had well ransacked the " wine- 
houses," used frequently to find something to reward them 
for their search in these cellars. Our way of proceeding 
was to let one or two of our men down the above-mentioned 
chimneys by means of a rope. I shall never forget the 
terror I experienced in one of these adventures. Three or 
four comrades and myself one evening assembled over the 
chimney of one of these wine-vaults, and it was proposed 
that one of us should descend to bring up some wine. 
This was no comfortable task, as the proprietors frequently 
watched below, and would scarcely hesitate to greet an 
intruder with his cuchillo or long knife. After some deli- 
beration, and plenty of peeping, it was at last decided that 
I should take the first chance; a rope accordingly was 
obtained from one of the muleteers, and being secured 
round my waist with a number of canteens, which clinked 
enough to awake almost the dead, I was gradually lowered. 

The vaults were generally as deep as a three-storied 
house, and before I got half way down, I was left dangling 
in the air, the canteens chinkling as if with the intention 
of hailing a knife the moment I arrived into the lower 
region ; at last I touched the ground. The place was so 
dark that I could scarcely see a couple of yards before me, 
and was obliged to grope my way for the vats ; at length 
one of the tins, that formed a kind of breast-work for my 
approach, came in contact with something, and putting 
my hand forward, I placed it upon the cold clammy face 
of a corpse. My whole blood tingled, the canteens 
responded, and at a glance I perceived, from the red wings 
(for whether or not, I could see now) that it was a French 
soldier, exhibiting most frightful gashes, evidently in- 
flicted by the same kind of weapon, which I at every turn, 
was expecting. 

The canteens clattered awfully, for I confess I shook; 



A SOLDIER. 131 

with terror, having no weapon to defend myself, and every 
instant looking for the arm of some concealed assassins, 
who probably were watching my movements. Afraid to 
call out, I instantly tugged at the rope (the signal to pull 
up), an answer from above expressed a doubt of the can- 
teens being filled so soon, and damned my eyes and limbs 
for me, but this only made me shake the rope more vio- 
lently, until, to my great satisfaction, I found myself 
again dangling, and ascending. My comrades seeing me 
really come forth with hollow tins, and blowing with agita- 
tion, burst into roars of laughter. 

I related my adventure, but this only increased it, until 
their mirth rallying us all, one, however, more daring than 
the rest, loaded his rifle, and with an oath, suffered himself 
to be lowered, and shortly returned, bringing up the can- 
teens filled with excellent wine. 

After remaining here for some time, we left Rueda at 
twelve o'clock at night on the 16th, the enemy, who had 
concentrated their forces at Tordesillas, being on the advance. 
The following morning the sun rose unclouded, presenting 
distinctly to the view the two armies moving in parallel 
lines along a ridge of low hills, separated only by the inter- 
vening valley and a river fordable in most places. The 
French columns appeared in such beautiful order, as to 
call forth the plaudits of even our own men. Skirmishing, 
however, was soon commenced between some of the cavalry 
and light troops. 

One or two companies of our Rifles, seconded by a troop 
of the 14th Dragoons, were soon partially engaged with 
about a corresponding number of the enemy, who would 
occasionally dash through the little river, and attempt to 
take up a position to annoy our skirmishers. Our rifle- 
men, in particular, were highly delighted with several little 
cavalry brushes that occurred this day between our dra- 
goons and the French. One instance of gallantry on the 
part of a French dragoon, which fell under the eyes of most 
of us, was particularly exciting : in a kind of half charge 
that had been made by about a section of French and 
English cavalry, one of the Frenchmen had dashed alone 
through some of our dragoons. His own party having 

k 2 



132 ADVENTURES OF 

retired, there seemed every prospect of his heing instantly 
killed or taken prisoner, and, indeed, most of us thought, 
as there were at least a dozen of our 14th Dragoons 
between him and his section, that he would surrender. 
Not so, however, thought the gallant Frenchman, but 
wheeling round, he gently trotted his horse for about 
twenty yards, when he gave spurs to his steed, and after 
several hand-to-hand conflicts with our dragoons in passing, 
he actually succeeded in reaching his party, I believe un- 
hurt, and attended by the cheers of our own men, who 
were not insensible, at any time, to the intrepidity even of 
an enemy. 

Another incident occurred also, which, as an appropriate 
companion to the foregoing, I will relate. Indeed, in 
gratitude, perhaps, I ought to do so, as I was a gainer on 
the occasion by a new pair of trowsers. A man of the 
14th Dragoons, named Pratt, a fine strapping young fellow, 
and a townsman of my own, brought in a French dragoon 
on his horse prisoner. The Frenchman had lost his hel- 
met, and displayed a severe cut on his cheek. Poor 
fellow ! he seemed exceedingly chop-fallen, and declared 
with much vehemence to Lieutenant Gardiner of our com- 
pany, who spoke excellent French, that the Englishman 
could not have taken him had he possessed a better horse. 
This Mr. Gardiner repeated to Pratt, who answered, 
" Then by Jasus, Sir, tell him if he had the best horse in 
France, I would bring him prisoner, if he stood to fight 
me." The words caused roars of laughter from all but 
the prisoner, who affectionately patting the goaded and 
smoking steed, exclaimed, " My poor beast has not had his 
saddle off for the last week." And such, indeed,*appeared 
to have been the case, as, on the saddle being removed, 
prior to the sale of the poor horse, a part of the flesh that 
had become a sore, came away with the saddle-cloth. The 
animal in this condition was sold to Lieutenant Gardiner 
for five dollars. Pratt, on opening the valise of the unfor- 
tunate prisoner (who with folded arms looked on with a 
mournful eye), came upon a pair of trowsers which he 
threw to me as a gift that was exceedingly welcome, as my 
own were worn to rags. 



A SOLDIER. 133 

The following day, after some slight skirmishes with the 
advance of the enemy, we retreated upon Salamanca. As 
few occurrences of any interest took place after this, for 
some days, heyond the manoeuvring of the two armies, 
interesting only to the tactician, and which so many pro- 
fessional men have done ample justice to, I will at once 
proceed to the hattle ; in which, however, I must remark, 
the Rifles were less engaged than in any other action fought 
during the war : for which reason I shall have but little to 
state upon the subject. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Battle of Salamanca— My wounds break out afresh— I go into the Hospital at 
Salamanca — The Germans and their prisoners — A recognition — Michael Con- 
nelly — His death and burial — Josh Hetherington again — A new acquaintance 
— His accounts of the Guerillas, &c. — A keepsake for a sweetheart — The 
Guerilla — The army retrace their steps to Salamanca— Proceed to Rodrigo — 
Heavy wet — Spanish payment ; acknowledgment — A dry coat— Lord Charles 
Spencer and his acorns — We continue our march — The babes in the wood — 
Hard skirmishing with the enemy's advanced-guard — A woman in distress — 
Pepper— Hunger, cold, and fatigue— Finish of the Burgos retreat. 

The night previous to the morn that ushered in the day 
of battle, viz., the 22nd of July, 1812, was the most 
stormy, 1 think, I ever witnessed. The thunder, lightning, 
and rain seemed striving which should excel, while their 
united effect was terrible. We lay, without covering, in an 
open field close to the river Tormes. It is needless to say, 
not a man that night had on a dry shred. It has, I 
believe, been previously remarked, by military and other 
writers, that rain has been the forerunner of almost all our 
general battles. From my own recollection, the truth of 
this assertion is singularly supported by facts. 

The battle of Salamanca commenced about ten or twelve 
o'clock, upon our right, on a rising ground. Our position 
was first disturbed by some cannon-shot of the enemy that 
fell very near, but fortunately without doing any harm. 

Although every moment expecting to be sent into the 
thick of it, we kept undisturbed possession of our ground, 
from whence we could see the column of the enemy on the 



134 ADVENTURES OF 

heights engaged in attempting to repel the advance of ouf 
troops. When the " glad sounds of victory" reached us, 
a general feeling of pleasure pervaded our ranks, mixed 
perhaps with some regret that we had not taken a more 
active share in the battle. But all we could do we did, 
which was to pepper the French well in their hurried 
retreat from the field. In fact, it seemed to me as if the 
whole French army might have been cut off by a little 
promptitude. 

We halted at Huerta. The following morning our 
division crossed the river Tormes in pursuit of the enemy. 
We came up with their rear strongly posted on the side of 
a hill on the left of the road. Here we beheld one ot 
those few charges that so seldom succeed against well- 
trained infantry : this was the celebrated charge of Major- 
General Bock, who, at the head of his heavy German 
cavalry, broke the French squares, taking them prisoners 
almost to a man. It was the most gallant dash of cavalry 
that ever was witnessed. 

This day I began to feel the ill effects of the wound I 
had received at Badajoz, which the fatigue of marching 
and the warmth of the weather had again caused to break 
out. On inspecting the sore, our surgeon immediately 
recommended me to go into hospital at Salamanca, for a 
few days of medical treatment and rest. Accordingly I 
set out for Salamanca with the guard appointed to escort 
the prisoners taken in the recent cavalry aifair by our 
Germans. I never before saw such severe-looking sabre- 
cuts as many of them had received ; several with both 
eyes cut out, and numbers had lost both ears. Their 
wounded, who were carried in waggons, were extremely 
numerous, and it was painful, even to an old soldier, to hear 
their groans and incessant cries for water. The escort 
consisted chiefly of the Germans that had taken them 
prisoners, and it was pleasing to behold these gallant 
fellows, in the true spirit of glory, paying the greatest atten- 
tion to the wants of the wounded. Water, as I have 
remarked, from the loss of blood that had taken place 
among the wounded, was in particular request. One of the 
prisoners, who had his arm hanging, probably in endea- 



A SOLDIER. 135 

Vouring to defend his head from a sword-cut — for, indeed, 
there were very few gun-shot w r ounds among them — was in 
particular very frequent in his demands for " eau" (water), 
when none could be obtained. Perhaps imagining himself 
neglected, we were not a little surprised to hear him sud- 
denly change his language, and call out in English, " For 
the love of Jesus, give me something to quench my thirst ; 
I am a fellow-countryman of your own." On entering 
into conversation with him I found he formerly belonged to 
the 9th Regiment of Foot, and had been taken prisoner 
with a number of others of his regiment, while on board a 
ship some time previous, since which occurrence he had 
been prevailed upon to enter the French service in pre- 
ference to being kept in close confinement. At Salamanca 
a sentry was placed over him ; what became of him I 
know not. 

On arriving at Salamanca our wounded prisoners, some 
other invalids, and myself were immediately taken into 
hospital. There we were, French and English, laid up 
together ; and there, I must say, I saw sufficient practice 
daily in the use of the surgeon's knife to become perfectly 
familiar with every form attendant upon amputation. 
While lying in hospital, at all times a wretched place, from 
the groans of the numerous sufferers, I was here placed 
under the immediate attendance of Sergeant Michael Con- 
nelly, in charge of our ward, who being sufficiently re- 
covered from a slight wound, was appointed sergeant to 
the hospital. He was one of the most singular characters 
I ever met with, and if an awkward person and uncouth 
face had gained him the preferment, his match certainly 
could not be found elsewhere. Mike was exceedingly 
attentive to the sick, and particularly anxious that the 
British soldier when dying, should hold out a pattern of 
firmness to the Frenchmen, who lay intermixed with us in 
the same wards. 

" Hould your tongue, ye blathering devil/' he would 
say, in a low tone, "and don't be after disgracing your 
country in the teeth of these ere furriners, by dying hard. 
Ye' 11 have the company at your burial, won't you ? Ye' 11 
have the drums beating and the guns firing over ye, won't 



136 ADVENTURES OF 

you ? Marciful God ! what more do you want ? ye are 
not at Elvas, to be thrown into a hole like a dog — ye'll be 
buried in a shroud and coffin, won't you 1 For God's sake, 
die like a man before these ere Frenchers." 

Mike, however, had one great failing, he drank like a 
whale, and did not scruple to adopt as gifts or legacies, 
the wine rations of both the dying and the dead, until he 
drank himself out of the world, and as his patients re- 
marked, after all, he died "like a beast." 

The news of Mike's death spread like wildfire, and all 
his old friends and the convalescents crowded to do honour 
to his remains. 

The funeral of the Duke himself could not have made a 
greater stir, for cavalier and foot soldier, from the drum- 
boy to the trumpeter, and all the women, children and 
camp-followers in the locality, flocked to follow his remains, 
the town became unusually alive, and the variegated throng, 
headed by the deceased sergeant, borne by four bearers, 
and the usual complement of soldiers with their arms re- 
versed, slowly wound their way through the city of Sala- 
manca. Many a jest made the streets ring with laughter, 
as the crowd followed the coffin, till they reached the 
burial-ground (near the French battery taken by us some 
time previously.) The bearers here proceeded to enter the 
gateway, when they were suddenly aroused by a slight cry 
from within the coffin, with a kind of scraping noise, like 
an effort to open it. They suddenly halted, paused, and 
listened. It was surely Mike scraping. On they moved 
again doubtfully. A second time the voice broke upon 
their ears. t( Whist!" ejaculated the bearers, their caps 
moving almost off their heads. " Oh blood and ouns ! 
where am I ? Oh bad luck to yer souls, let me out, won't 
you ? oh, merciful Jasus, I'm smoothered." In a twink- 
ling out bolted the bearers from under the coffin, and a 
dozen bayonets in an instant were sunk under and lifted 
the lid. The crowd crushed dreadfully to take a look. 
But there lay Sergeant Michael Connelly, sure enough as 
stiff as a fugleman but something colder, and my old friend, 
that blackguard Josh Hetherington, the cockney ventrilo- 
quist, who had been one of the bearers, as "innocent 5 * 



A SOLDIER. 137 

as you please, joining in the astonishment of the rest 
of us. 

Josh winked at me and I at Josh. "Ned," said he, 
" I'm blessed if I think he's dead. Why don't some of 
them chaps go for a doctor." "To be sure," cried the 
crowd, " send for the doctor." Meanwhile a regular rush 
was made to press him to swallow some of his favourite 
liquor, but his teeth as obstinately opposed the draught, so 
that poor Mike was already pronounced " not himself," 
w T hen the doctor arrived. 

While here, I got acquainted with a pleasant and intelli- 
gent man who belonged to the 13th Light Dragoons, and 
was fast recovering from a wound he had received in the 
shoulder. We used frequently to alleviate as much as we 
could the unpleasantness of our situation by a little con- 
versation. His history both amused and interested me. 

He had been taken prisoner by the French near Badajoz 
while serving in General Hill's division, but managed 
shortly afterwards to make his escape between Yittoria and 
Pampeluna. The following morning he fell in with a 
party of General Mina's Guerillas, who, as soon as they 
found hirn to be an Englishman, wished him to enlist in 
their band until he could regain his regiment. This offer 
he was glad to accept. After giving me a very amusing 
account of the manners of the Guerillas, their rich pic- 
turesque dresses and arms, and their wild military life in 
the mountains, he proceeded to detail several anecdotes of 
their cruelty and ferocity, among which I can well remem- 
ber the following, from the impression it then left upon 
my mind, and the simple manner in which he related it : 

Uniting suddenly several of his. Guerilla bands in the 
neighbourhood of Vittoria, Mina, whose information of the 
movements of the French seemed unerring, one morning 
surprised and captured a number of waggons filled with 
stores. They had been sent from Madrid for the army at 
Vittoria, and were escorted by gendarmes, who were all 
either killed or taken. The prisoners, about twenty in 
number, were immediately marched into the mountains, 
but not before they had time to draw a dark augury of 
their own fate bv seeing all their wounded comrades 



138 ADVENTURES OF 

brutally stabbed to death on the ground where the skir- 
mish had taken place. The prisoners., after having been 
stripped of nearly every article of wearing apparel, even to 
their boots, were confined in a space of ground encircled 
by pens or hurdles, and used for keeping cattle, round 
which were planted many sentries. In the evening the 
ferocious mountaineers, elated with their day's success, 
being joined by a number of females, their sweethearts and 
wives made merry with drinking wine and dancing to the 
music of several guitars. During this merriment both 
men and women frequently taunted their wretched pri- 
soners, recapitulated the wrongs the Spaniards had suffered 
at the hands of the French, until they gradually had excited 
their passions to a partial state of frenzy. In this state, 
the signal having been given by one of their number, they 
rushed in among their hapless prisoners, and commenced a 
general massacre, drowning the cries and supplications for 
mercy of their victims, as they gave each blow, by enume- 
rating the different losses each had sustained in his family 
during the war. " Take that for my father you shot," — 
"that for my son," — "this for my brother," &c, until 
the work of death was complete. The most inhuman, 
and perhaps most revolting trait in this general mur- 
der was some of the women having actively assisted in the 
slaughter. 

A short time after I had heard the preceding sketch, I 
had an opportunity of observing that sanguinary feeling 
of revenge that so peculiarly characterized the Guerillas 
during the war. I rejoined my regiment at a little village 
about three leagues from Madrid, called Gataffe. In the 
farm-house, where the greater part of our company were 
quartered, was a very pretty Spanish girl who had a 
brother serving with the Guerillas. One hot summer 
evening, when several comrades and myself were sitting on 
a bench outside the door, joking with the girl, a swarthy, 
savage-looking Spaniard came up, and was welcomed with 
much joy by the girl and her parents. The new-comer 
was armed to the teeth with pistols, daggers, and a long 
gun, which, together with his crimson sash and free bear- 
ing, at once proclaimed him the Guerilla. At first we 



A SOLDIER. 13$ 

imagined him the girl's brother, hut soon perceived another, 
though equally dear tie, cemented their affection : he was 
her lover or suitor. While engaged in conversation with 
his sweetheart and her parents, we observed him take rather 
ostentatiously from his side a long heavy-looking silk purse, 
the contents of which he emptied into the lap of his mis- 
tress. The Spaniard's eyes sparkled with pleasure ; but, 
for the honour of a British soldier, a general disgust per- 
vaded the minds of my comrades and myself, when we 
beheld a number of human ears and fingers, which glis- 
tened with the golden ornaments they still retained. He 
then told us, with an air of bravado, that he had cut them 
from off the bodies of the French whom he himself had 
slain in battle, each ear and finger having on a gold ring. 

" Napoleon," he observed, in his native dialect, with a 
grim smile — " Napoleon loves his soldiers, and so do the 
ravens ;" as he pointed to several of those carrion birds 
perched on the walls of an old convent covered with ivy. 
" We find them plenty of food ; they shall never want, so 
long as a Frenchman remains in Spain." Such are the 
men who were considered the greatest patriots attached to 
the Spanish army during the war. 

The chief business of the British at this time was laying 
siege to Burgos. The enemy having also assembled in 
great numbers betwixt it and Vittoria, Lord Wellington, 
thinking he was not able to oppose their force, ordered the 
whole of the divisions to retire on Salamanca. We of the 
light division received orders to the same effect. 

On the 22nd of October we left Madrid : the contempt 
with which the inhabitants treated us for leaving them 
once more to the mercy of the French, cannot easily be 
forgotten. 

For what the men said gave us little concern ; but to be 
taxed and taunted for cowardice by the Spanish ladies was 
most galling. Even my handsome dark-eyed Clementeria, 
sister to the Guerilla lover, who seemed so much attached 
to me, and with whom I spent many a moonlight night 
serenading to the Spanish guitar, and who first taught me 
to use the castanets in the Spanish dance — even she, with 
all her pretended love, refused me a buss at our last mo- 



140 ADVENTURES OF 

ment of parting, though I used all my eloquence, welding 
the Spanish, French, and English together in pleading my 
cause. All had no effect on the hard-hearted Mosa. Her 
last words were : " Begone, you cowardly English, you 
have not the courage to fight the enemy of our country : 
those who have butchered my dear father and brother," 
were her last words. After a harassing march through a 
mountainous country we joined the remainder of our army 
at Salamanca. There we took up our quarters for a few 
days in a convent, which exhibited such a loathsome pic- 
ture of filth as to be almost unendurable. In consequence 
of our men having torn up a part of the balustrades for 
firing, a young officer of the third battalion fell down a 
height of fifty feet, and was killed on the spot. 

On the second morning after our arrival we again pro- 
ceeded towards Rodrigo. The rain fell in torrents, and 
from the heaviness of the roads, which were in many places 
a foot deep in mud, most of our men lost their shoes, and 
were obliged to march barefooted. Among this number I 
was unfortunately included. When we had reached our 
halting- ground for the night, our prospect was most deso- 
late. Wet to the skin — without fire or shelter — and at the 
same time possessed of a ravenous appetite, with nothing 
to satisfy it, formed one of the disagreeables so often attend- 
ant upon our life in the Peninsula — to say nothing of inces- 
sant duty and fatigue. It was these sufferings, in fact, I 
am convinced, that oftentimes rendered our men so callous 
about death, at different periods during the war, as some 
men, from the privations they endured, wished to be shot, 
and exposed themselves in action purposely. 

On our halt on the above night, the first thing I did 
was to take off my jacket and shirt, and after ringing 
about half a gallon of water out of them, I replaced them 
upon my back to dry as they might. Most of our men 
had employed themselves in cutting down boughs of trees 
to keep themselves out of the mud ; but it was some hours 
before we could obtain that greatest of luxuries, under our 
present circumstances, a good fire. Still we had not a 
morsel to eat after the day's fatigue — no rations having 
been issued — and our men suffered from all the pangs of 



A SOLDIER. 141 

cold and hunger. Fortune, however, during the evening 
favoured a few of us. Towards the middle of the night 
one or two of our men brought intelligence that several 
cars laden with spirits and biscuit for the Spanish army 
were stuck fast in the road, and could not proceed onwards. 
The temptation to our hungry maws could not be resisted ; 
leaving our fires, and getting up to the cars, screened by 
the darkness of the night, we managed to get a portion 
both of biscuit and aguardiente ; but the Spanish guard, 
discovering our fellows, commenced firing on them : this 
was quickly returned, and several, I believe, were shot ; 
indeed, the firing continued all night, which alarmed the 
chief part of our army. Had the offenders been discovered, 
it would not have been difficult to have foretold their fate, 
as the Duke's orders were particularly strict against plunder, 
(if such this might be called, for after all, the whole fell 
into the hands of the French next morning, as the carts 
were then able to be moved). For my own part, such 
were my feelings this night, that I believe I should have 
expired, but for the liquor I had drank. 

With all their hunger, however, there existed among the 
men a sympathy for the officers, which, considering their 
distance, was rather remarkable ; several of the most 
haughty of the latter gladly received little kindnesses from 
the soldiers ; and if the noble lord be now living, he may 
chance to recollect an instance connected with it. Lord 
Charles Spencer, then a youth about eighteen years of age, 
suffered dreadfully from the hunger and fatigue of this 
retreat ; trembling with cold and weakness, he stood 
perched upon some branches, that had been cut down for 
fuel, the tears silently starting from his eyes through the 
pain he experienced, while thus sharing in the common lot, 
anxiously watching a few acorns, which to stay the pangs 
of hunger he had placed in the embers to roast. I dare 
say his Lordship had never known till then the joys of 
poverty — a good appetite ! Nor will he, I expect, forget 
how willingly the rough soldiers flew to offer bim biscuits, 
which their own sufferings could not withhold from one so 
tenderly and delicately reared ; but his Lordship was very 



142 ADVENTURES OF 

much liked amongst us, and, no doubt, it did many a vete- 
ran's heart good to hear his thanks, and see the eagerness 
with which he devoured the offering. These are times 
when Lords find that they are men — and men, that they 
are comrades. 

Before daylight we pursued our route, the rain con- 
tinuing to fall in torrents, while the state of our regiment 
was pitiable. To add to our comfort, the enemy were close 
upon our heels : this night we spent something like the 
last — wet, cold, and hungry. On the following morning 
we were obliged to continue our retreat rather precipitately, 
as the shots of the French, who were in great force, came 
rattling in among us. During the morning the enemy's 
cavalry succeeded in getting through a wood, and managed 
to cut off the baggage of the seventh division, then in front 
of ours. Among some captives the enemy made on this oc- 
casion were several children in panniers carried by donkeys. 
One Irishwoman, in particular, I remember seeing, whose 
grief seemed inconsolable for the loss she had sustained in 
that of her child. In a few days, however, the French, 
desiring to be as little encumbered as ourselves with 
children, sent them back with a flag of truce. This was 
followed by a most interesting scene, as the different 
mothers rushed forward to clasp their darlings in their 
arms. 

This day we were hard pressed by the enemy's advanced- 
guard, and two of our companies, the one in which I served 
being one, were ordered to cover the retreat of our divi- 
sion. The French, confident in their numbers, pressed us 
vigorously, and it was with difficulty we could check their 
advance. While hotly engaged skirmishing, I was about 
taking possession of a tree, when I beheld a poor woman 
at the foot of it, who, being unable to keep up with the 
regiment, had sank down exhausted. Poor soul ! she 
seized my hands, and begged of me to assist her ; at the 
same moment the enemy's balls came rapping into the 
tree that only partially screened us. I was obliged, how- 
ever, to leave her, as there seemed every prospect of most 
of us being cut off; the "assembly" sounded, and away 



A SOLDIER. 143 

we dashed, " devil take the hindmost/ 5 in upon the bat- 
talion. Here our illustrious chief, who was generally to be 
found where danger was most apparent, seeing us come 
puffing and blowing up to our column, called out to us., in 
a cheering voice : " Be cool, my lads ; dont be in a hurry !" 
But, in faith, with all possible respect for his Lordship, we 
were not in greater haste than the occasion demanded, as 
the French were upon us, and we were obliged to dash 
down the sides of the hill, where we halted for a moment, 
and his Lordship also, and then ford a river. "While 
engaged in crossing the stream, that was much swollen by 
the late rains, a round-shot from the enemy, who were 
now peppering away at us, took off the head of a Sergeant 
Fotheringham, of our battalion, and smashed the thigh of 
another man. On gaining the other side of the stream we 
turned to give a salute in return, but owing to the wet our 
rifles were unserviceable. 

We remained that night stationary on the banks of the 
river, exposed to all the delights of cold, hunger, and 
fatigue. These feelings were not improved by a course of 
shelling that the enemy did us the honour to indulge in at 
our expense. But, as I have remarked, the sufferings of 
our men were such at this period that many of them con- 
sidered death a happy relief. The morning at length 
dawned upon our half-famished persons, but brought no 
alleviation to our miseries. The rain still continued to 
come down in torrents. Pursuing our route, we arrived at 
Ciudad Bodrigo, and took shelter under its walls, where 
we found some sheds used as stables for the Spanish 
cavalry. The moment I entered, the first thing that 
caught my eve was some Indian corn-leaves, which I con- 
sidered a lucky chance, and instantly throwing myself on 
them, wet as I was, soon fell into a sound sleep, the only 
rest I had had since we left Salamanca. However, in the 
morning when I awoke I found myself in a glow of heat^ 
and covered with perspiration, and on attempting to rise 
found myself as if paralyzed, and could not move. Calling 
some of the men to assist, they were astonished at the 
steam that emitted from under me like smoke. I then 



144 ADVENTURES OF 

found my bed had been hot horse-dung, slightly covered 
by the Indian corn-leaves. The doctor being sent for, 
ordered me instantly to be carried into the town, where 
with hot baths and a salivation in a few weeks I was able 
to join my regiment. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Head-quarters at Grenalda — Don Julian Sanchez, the celebrated Guerilla Chief 
■ — Weakness of our numbers — Incorporation of Spaniards into our regiments — 
A thief — Punishment of, and opinion of the men — General orders for a col- 
lection among the men and officers to relieve Russian losses — A ball, in which 
thousands were present — Campaign of 1812 commenced — The Life Guards and 
the Blues join us — The French retreat to Burgos — Secret expedition for bread 
— Our surprise — Retreat — General Sir Lowry Cole — His temple spectacles 
made use of to reconnoitre — Our escape — A few remarks — Three alternatives 
— A cavalry affair on the 18th June — German brotherhood again. 

Towards the end of November our battalion again 
became stationed at its old quarters, in the little village of 
Alamada. We obtained here fresh clothing, certainly not 
before it was wanted ; green having become by far the 
least conspicuous colour in the regiment, while so various 
had been the expedients resorted to for obtaining a substi- 
tute for shoes, that the fresh supply from England was 
welcomed with no common joy. It was quite amusing to 
see how our fellows enjoyed their clothing, strutting about 
as proud as peacocks among the Spanish peasant girls, in 
whose estimation they doubtless conceived they should be 
considerably advanced. 

Head-quarters were at Grenalda, some miles distant 
from where we lay, and a company of our regiment 
occasionally did duty over the Duke, whose quarters were 
in the house of the Alcalde. We had strict orders to 
admit no one inside the gates leading to the house, unless 
some particular despatch from the front, or from Don 
Julian Sanchez, the Guerilla chieftain. Indeed, a report 
had arisen amongst us, at the time, that his Grace was not 
altogether right in his head ; but this was mere fiction. I 
used to observe him walking through the market-place, 



A SOLDIER. 145 

leading by the hand a little Spanish girl, some five or six 
years old, and humming a short tune or dry whistle, and 
occasionally purchasing little sweets, at the child's request, 
from the paysannes of the stalls. 

Here, for the first time, I saw Don Julian Sanchez, the 
noted Guerilla leader, linked arm in arm with the Duke — 
an instance peculiar to the time, of obscure merit rising of 
its own impulse to an equality with the greatest man of 
the age. 

My readers may well suppose I did not slightly no- 
tice the square well-set figure, dark scowl, and flashing 
eyes of the Guerilla, whose humble birth-place I after- 
wards visited, in a small village between Rodrigo and 
Salamanca. I had been informed that he first began his 
career as a pig-boy, but owing to some cruelties exercised 
on a branch of his family by the French, he took an 
inveterate hatred to them, which he exemplified by sur- 
prising and slaughtering two or three of their soldiers, 
whom he found asleep in a wood. Accompanied by one or 
two others, he continued and increased his sanguinary 
feats, and gradually collected a small band, then a body, 
and eventually commanded upwards of twenty thousand 
Guerillas, well-armed, and equipped with British arms and 
accoutrements, and who rendered more assistance to the 
cause of the British than all the Spanish troops beside. 

Our regiments, by constant collision with the French, 
were getting exceedingly thinned, and recruits from 
England came but very slowly, until we found it necessary 
at last to incorporate some of the Spaniards ; for this 
purpose several non-commissioned officers and men were 
sent into the adjacent villages recruiting. In the course of 
a short time, and to our surprise, we were joined by a 
sufficient number of Spaniards to give ten or twelve men 
to each company in the battalion. But the mystery was 
soon unravelled, and by the recruits themselves, who, on 
joining, gave us to understand, by a significant twist of the 
neck, and a " Carago" (much like the very breaking of 
one), that they had but three alternatives to choose from, 
to enter either the British, or Don Julian's service, or be 



146 ADVENTURES OF 

hanged ! The despotic sway of Sanchez, and his threat in 
the bargain, so disjointed their inclination for the Guerillas, 
that they hastily fled their native "woods" and "thresh- 
old/' for fear of really finding themselves noosed up to 
them, and gladly joined the British regiments. Many of 
them were even made corporals, and, indeed, proved them- 
selves worthy of their new comrades, whom they rivalled 
in every undertaking of courage and determination.* 

While lying here I will give a short description of our 
regiment's opinion of flogging, not indeed by words, but 
by signs, as the following anecdote will show, although the 
sound of cats was seldom heard in our battalion ; for I can 
safely say, that for the six years I served in Spain not 
more than six men, to my recollection, were punished in 
our battalion, and yet withal I cannot brag of our fellows 
being the honestest branch in the British armv. At the 
time I speak of we had a man in our regiment of the name 
of Stratton, who, after robbing several of his comrades of 
trifling articles, took it into his head to desert to the 
enemy, and was detected in the act, in a wood that leads 
from Rodrigo to Salamanca, by the vigilant Guerillas, and 
brought back prisoner to our cantonments. He was, tried 
by a regimental court-martial, and sentenced to receive four 
hundred lashes. 

After the proceedings of the court-martial were read by 
the Adjutant, in a wood near the village where the regi- 
ment was formed for punishment, Major Cameron, who 
commanded us at the time, devised the following plan to find 
out the true character of the prisoner, for the Major was 
not only a brave and gallant soldier, but a shrewd man, and 
knew well that the men were better judges of the good or 
bad qualities of each other than the officers could possibly 
be. He addressed the prisoner as follows : — "Stratton, I 
ought to have had you tried by a general court-martial ; in 
that case you would have been shot ; but the high charac- 
ter the regiment has borne in the army prevents me from 

* The gallantry of the Spaniards of our regiment make me believe, had those 
countrymen during the war been properly commanded, they would have made 
excellent soldiers. 



A SOLDIER. 147 

having it mentioned in general orders, that a man of the 
Rifles could be guilty of the heinous crime of desertion to 
the enemy. I am yet willing to show you kindness. Now, 
Sir, if the men of the battalion will be answerable for your 
future good conduct, I shall pardon you." Turning round 
at the same time, Major Cameron looked the men in the 
face while he stood in the square, as if waiting for an 
answer. 

A pause took place, no answer being given. The Major 
said : " Strip, Sir." He was tied to a tree, and received 
twenty-five lashes ; the second bugler was preparing to 
commence, when the Major again said, " Will you not be 
answerable, men, for Stratton's conduct? Well, then, if 
his own company will be answerable for his good behaviour 
I shall forgive him." The prisoner, at these words, looked 
round with an imploring eye, as far as his position would 
allow him, looking towards his own company, saying, " Do, 
men, speak for me, I will not act so in future." I recollect 
it well, each man leaning on the muzzle of his rifle with his 
left hand, while his right covered his face, and all silent ; 
not a man spoke. " Go on," said the Major ; the culprit 
received twenty-five lashes more, when the Major again 
said, " Now, Sir, if only one man in the regiment will. speak 
in your behalf, I shall take you down." Still silent, while 
the third bugler commenced : when the prisoner had 
received about sixteen lashes, a voice from the square called 
out, "Forgive him, Sir!" — "Stop, bugler, stop !" said the 
Major ; " who was the man that spoke ?" " I did, Sir !" 
was the answer. " Step into the square ;" when a man of 
the prisoner's own company came forward. " Oh ! is it 
you, Hobinson ?" said Major Cameron ; " I thought as 
much ; as little-good-for-nothing a fellow as himself; but 
take him down." 

When the prisoner was conducted out of the square, 
the Major addressed the men, saying : *' Your conduct in 
the field is well known by the British army ; but," added 
the Major, " your moral worth I have not known before ; 
not a man would speak in that fellow's behalf, except the 
man who did, whom you know as well as I do." This may 

l 2 



148 ADVENTURES OF 

serve to show, that however soldiers dislike this mode of 
punishment, they still like to see a rascal punished ; and 
nothing tends to destroy all feeling of pity for his suffer- 
ings more than his having been guilty of an act of 
cowardice, or robbing his comrade; 

Some months before our present sojourn at Allamada, 
Napoleon had made his disastrous campaign in Russia, 
when Moscow was burnt. The circumstance was now 
brought to our notice by the general order, soliciting a 
day's pay from the officers and men of the army towards 
defraying the losses sustained by the Russians. This was 
most cheerfully bestowed by every man in our battalion 
except two, the above-mentioned Stratton and another 
man of the name of Frost ; and to crown the occurrence 
the day was made one of jollity and fun. Country dances 
were struck up by the band, and it was most laughable to 
behold, one and all, officers as well as private soldiers 
kicking about their heels to the tune of " The Downfall of 
Paris." 

Our division had been cantoned in and about Allamada 
during the winter, when, soldier-like, ever sighing after a 
change of scene, the men of our battalion generally began 
to grow tired of their monotonous and inactive life : how- 
ever, we received orders for marching. This occurred 
about the middle of May, when we commenced the cam- 
paign of 1813, and a spirit of enterprize, notwithstanding 
past sufferings, extended itself throughout the light division. 
We left Allamada in high spirits. On the third day's 
march our battalion encamped near Salamanca, in a wood, 
where we were joined by the Life Guards and Oxford 
Blues, that had just come out from England, and whom 
we beheld drawn up at the side of the road. Their fresh 
and well-fed appearance gave rise to many jests at the 
expense of the " householders." They in fact, as I learnt, 
took us at first, from our dark clothing and embrowned 
visages, for a foreign regiment. 

The first peep we got of the enemy was at a place called 
Toro, on the road towards Burgos. There our hussars had 
a sharp skirmish, in which they took some prisoners. 



A SOLDIER. 149 

Continuing our advance, we overtook their rear-guard the 
following day. After a little skirmishing and cannonading 
they continued their retreat to Burgos. The next morning 
we were startled by a tremendous explosion, that at first 
induced many of our men to think it an earthquake, until 
we ascertained the fact that it arose from the explosion of a 
mine, with which the French had destroyed the castle and 
some of the works of the town of Burgos. 

On the 16th of June we passed through the pretty 
little town of Medina del Pomar, and encamped on the 
other side of it close to the banks of a large river. On 
this march we suffered much from a deficiency of supplies 
from the commissariat, as anything like rations we seldom 
received. Myself and one or two others, having some few 
pence, determined to start off on the sly, as we were not 
allowed to move from our camp ground, and purchase 
bread at a little village we beheld at the other side of the 
river, which we forded unobserved and entered the village. 
There, however, the alarm of the people became very great 
upon our appearance, and not wishing apparently to have 
any dealings with us, they asked an immense price for the 
bread. Irritated at this conduct, and urged by hunger, 
every man seized a loaf and threw down the usual price in 
the country. Seeing that we were all totally unarmed, for 
we had not even our side-arms, an immediate outcry was 
raised against us by the people, and we had to run for 
safety. This we did, carrying the loaves with us, until we 
were overtaken by some of the swift-footed peasantry, who 
came up to us with knives and clubs. Our lives being 
thus in jeopardy for the dearly-obtained bread, our party 
instantly had recourse to stones for defence. " Muerte a 
los peros Ingleses." " Kill the English dogs/' was the 
general cry of the Spaniards, as they brandished their long 
knives. They were evidently about to make a rush in 
among us, by which my own personal adventures, and 
those of my comrades, would, in all probability, hive been 
finished on the spot, when several men of the 43rd and 
52nd regiments, belonging to our division, came run- 
ning up, like ourselves, foraging. It was the turn 



150 ADVENTURES OF 

of the Spaniards now to retreat— which they did in a 
hurry. 

We had scarcely escaped the attack of the Spaniards 
and arrived at the hank of the river, when General Sir 
Lowry Cole came galloping up to us with some of the 
mounted staff, which indeed might be termed the police of 
the army. " Hallo ! you plundering rascals of the light 
division — halt !" was the General's command, as he pulled 
up his temple spectacles, which he generally wore. One 
only resource was left us, and that was to plunge into the 
river, which at that part was very deep, and swim across, 
holding the bread in our teeth. This we immediately 
adopted, when Sir Lowry, in an agitated tone, that did 
honour to his heart, called out — "Come back, men, for 
God's sake — you'll be drowned! Come back, and I'll not 
punish you." But the General's fears were needless ; we 
soon landed on the other side. 

On arriving at our camp we found that the roll had been 
called over several times, and that we had been set down 
" absent without leave ;" but we were lucky enough to 
escape with a slight reprimand. 

I cannot here forbear making a few remarks with refer- 
ence to the men who composed our battalion in the 
Peninsula. The reader will be apt to imagine, that those 
men who were in the habit of foraging after a day's march, 
were but indifferent soldiers. Allow me, with some pre- 
tensions to the name of a veteran, to correct this error, and 
inform the reader, that these were the very men whose 
bravery and daring in the field far exceeded the merits of 
their more quiet comrades in quarters. 

Our men, during the war, might be said to have been 
composed of three classes. One was zealous and brave to 
absolute devotion, but who, apart from their "fighting 
duties," considered some little indulgence as a right ; the 
other class barely did their duty when under the eye of 
their superior ; while the third, and I am happy to say, 
by far the smallest in number, were skulkers and poltroons 
— their excuse was weakness from want of rations ; they 
would crawl to the rear, and were seldom seen until after 



A SOLDIER. 151 

a battle had been fought, when they might be observed in 
the ranks until the Commissary again placed them on 
short allowance, when off they started ; in this manner 
they swelled the muster-rolls. 

But the first of these were the men who placed the Duke 
on his present pinnacle -as one of the great captains of the 
age. During the whole of our advance from the frontiers 
of Portugal, until we entered the Pyrenees, not more (on 
the average) than one biscuit per day was served out to 
each man — and it consequently could not be expected 
that a soldier, weighed down by a heavy knapsack, and 
from sixty to eighty rounds of ammunition (such as we 
Riflemen carried at the time), could march from twenty to 
thirty miles a day on so short an allowance. 

It was not unfrequent, therefore, after a day's march to 
observe groups of our regiment, and, indeed, of the divi- 
sion, rooting up the fields with their swords and bayonets, 
in search of potatoes, &c, and these were the men who 
were able to undergo the fatigue of the next day. 

The French, also, in their hurried retreat stocked them- 
selves with several days' provisions in advance ; these 
were hung very temptingly from their knapsacks,* and as 
it were, in defiance of our hungry jaws ; as a consequence, 
this gave rise to the well-known remark, or alternatives of 
the Light Division : " Damme, boys, if the Commissary 
don't show his front we must either find a potato field, or 
have a killing day!" 

Indeed, but for these resources, so dependent on our 
. individual energies, his Grace, from our being always in 
front, might have occasionally found half his Light Divi- 
sion " stiff," and the other half tucked under the blankets 
as "Belem Rangers." 

On the 18th of June (a very memorable day to our 
army afterwards) we passed along the banks of a fine river. 
Our company, along with but half a troop of German 
Hussars, formed the advance. On turning a winding of 
the road, we suddenly came within sight of a party of the 

* As before stated, the French carry no haversacks. 



152 ADVENTURES OF 

enemy's cavalry who formed the tail of their rear-guard. 
Our Germans, who were commanded by a very smart 
young fellow, immediately charged them. The French, 
perceiving the number of our cavalry only equal to their 
own, instantly wheeled about and calmly awaited the 
attack. A very smart combat soon took place, and was 
supported by great resolution for some time on both sides, 
but terminated in the flight or capture of the enemy. 
Several prisoners were brought in, all of whom were badly 
wounded; and scarcely one of our gallant Germans had 
escaped without some sabre-wound. Another singular 
circumstance occurred at this skirmish. One of the Ger- 
man cavalry, as he came in with a prisoner and his horse, 
exclaimed in broken English, as he came up to us — 
" Mine Got ! mine Got ! he is mine own broder !" It 
appeared he had brought in his own brother prisoner, 
wounded, who was in the French service. The officers of 
both parties had been killed in the preceding charge ; and 
Lord Wellington, who came up at the time, was so pleased 
with our cavalry, that he promised the sergeant a commis- 
sion, which a few days after, I was told, he obtained. 

The whole of our battalion, which soon came up, was 
ordered to push forward. We found the French rear- 
guard in possession of a little town called San Milan, in 
front of which they had drawn themselves up, apparently 
with the intention of defending. As we continued to 
advance in extended order, they changed their minds and 
turned tail. This day I noticed a novel system many of 
the enemy had adopted, of firing their muskets over their 
shoulders in their retreat, without turning round to face us. 
This resulted, in all probability, from the excessive heat 
and fatigue they had endured. 



A SOLDIER* 153 



CHAPTER XIX. 

We encamp near Puebla, on the road to Vittoria — Battle of Vittoria — A man 
obliged to hold his jaw — Affair of Bayonets — The 88th — Blanco — Daly — French 
defeated — A prisoner rescued — The carriage of Joseph Napoleon — His wife, 
&c. — His baton — A prize — Attempt to rob me — Sergeant Lee — Night scenes 
after the battle — The sale of the spoils — I distribute my money for safety — 
We march on Salvatierra — Halt at Pampeluna — Another brush wanted — 
Lesaca — The enemy on the heights of Santa Barbara dislodged — The French 
attempt to relieve Pampeluna — The Bidassoa — The French too late for the 
"fare" — We also — A race back by way of "hurry" — The Regiment's birth-day 
— Sergeant Fawfoot's loss and re-instalment— My treasure — My comrade — 
His good faith — Siege and storm of San Sebastian — The four hundred gallant 
Frenchmen — Their charge and escape — The 52nd and their badges — Re- 
marks, &c. 

On the 20th we remained encamped near Puebla, a town 
within ten or twelve miles of Vittoria. On the following 
morning we fell in rather earlier than usual, when a general 
rumour among the ranks augured we should have a busy 
day. We were, indeed, on the eve of the memorable battle 
of Vittoria. We marched along the left of the high road 
towards the previously mentioned city, leaving Puebla a 
little to the right. Our battalion, as the advanced-guard, 
preceded by the remainder of the division until we came in 
sight of the enemy on the other side of the river Zadora. 
We commenced a smart brush with their voltigeurs, who 
slowly retreated, and took up a position in the rear of some 
rocks, from whence their fire swept a bridge in our imme- 
diate front. While thus occupied in skirmishing, we 
heard a loud cheering on our left, where we beheld the 
third division charge over a bridge much lower down the 
stream. Fired by the sight, we instantly dashed over the 
bridge before us in the face of a galling discharge from the 
enemy. We then drove them from the rocks, and in our 
turn had to sustain a heavy fire from several guns mounted 
upon a hill that commanded our position. The rocks were 
splintered round us in every direction from this fire, and 
many of our men were killed or wounded by shot or frag- 
ments of stone. 



154 ADVENTURES OF 

We were soon joined by the remainder of our division, 
and pushed forward up a hill, from the summit of which we 
could clearly discern the city of Vittoria. By this time the 
action had become pretty hot and general with the other 
divisions, as well as our own. The chief scene of conflict 
was on an extended plain within a mile or two of the city 
on the left. Continuing to advance, we arrived near a 
small village on the main road, from which we were 
annoyed by a furious fire, until, rushing in, we drove them 
out, and captured a howitzer in the market-place, the first 
that was taken. We were doomed however, to have it but 
a short time in our possession, as a whole regiment of the 
enemy came charging upon us, and our force, consisting of 
only two companies, had to retreat with precipitation, when, 
turning round, however, we beheld our favourite third 
division coming double quick down the main road to our 
assistance — with Picton, who was never absent in time of 
need, at their head. 

After retiring for about a hundred yards, this sight 
encouraged us, and we were at them again. While thus 
engaged, a grape or round-shot struck my pouch with such 
violence that I was hurled by the force a distance of several 
yards. From the sudden shock I thus experienced, I 
imagined myself mortally wounded ; but, on being picked 
up, I found the only damage I had sustained was the 
partial destruction of my pouch, which was nearly torn off. 

A man of the name of Hudson, who was one of the 
pardoned deserters at Eodrigo, while running to my assist- 
ance as 1 afterwards learned, was struck by a bullet in his 
mouth, which knocked out several of his teeth, and came 
out at the back of the ear. From this wound, severe as it 
was, he however recovered. 

Placing some of the ammunition in my haversack and 
the remainder in my cap, we were at them again, and 
recaptured the howitzer in the village, by the assistance of 
part of the third division. 

Still pursuing them, the chief part of my company kept 
on the right of the main road. In all my military life, 
this sight surpassed anything I ever saw : the two armies 



A SOLDIER. 155 

hammering at each other, yet apparently with all the cool- 
ness of field-day exercise — so beautifully were they 
brought into action. 

At this moment I noticed a regiment, which by its 
yellow facings I think was the 88th or Connaught Rangers, 
marching in close column of companies to attack a French 
regiment which was drawn up in line on the verge of a hill 
with a small village in its rear. 

The 88th, although at the time under a heavy can- 
nonade from the enemy's artillery, continued advancing 
gallantly onwards, which, we skirmishers perceiving, took 
ground to the left close to the road, in order to enable 
them to oppose this line in front. 

Though hotly engaged at the time, I determined to 
watch their movements. The 88th next deployed into 
line, advancing all the time towards their opponents, 
who seemed to wait very coolly for them. When 
they had approached to within three or four hundred 
yards, the French poured in a volley or I should say a 
running fire from right to left. As soon as the British 
regiment had recovered the first shock, and closed their 
files on the gap it had made, they commenced advancing 
at double time until within fifty yards nearer to the 
enemy, when they halted and in turn gave a running fire 
from their whole line, and without a moment's pause 
cheered and charged up the hill against them. The French 
meanwhile were attempting to reload. But being hard 
pressed by the British, who allowed them no time to give a 
second volley, came immediately to the right about, making 
the best of their way to the village.* 

* As of late, much has been said concerning the use or non-use of the bayonet in 
action, I shall here take the liberty, supported by the above fact, of intruding my 
own opinions in the matter; an opinion, which falling from the mouth of an old 
soldier only, might otherwise be thought worthless, if not presumptuous. 

It is generally known of course that Biflemen, when in action, are at all times 
extended, and have always better opportunities of watching the movements of 
two armies, than those troops who are compelled to march in compact and 
closely -wedged masses. 

Both parties, it will be observed by the above, were with their fire-locks un- 
loaded, the British having fired and charged before the French could reload, and 
both consequently had no resource left but their bayonets. Now I would ask 
the no-bayonet gentlemen, if the French, who well knew their mutual position, 



156 ADVENTURES Otf 

As I have before observed, we had several Spaniards in 
our regiment. These men were generally brave ; but one 
in particular, named Blanco, was one of the most skilful 
and daring skirmishers we had in the battalion. His 
great courage, however, was sullied by a love of cruelty 
towards the French whom he detested, and never named 
but with the most ferocious expressions. In every affair 
we had since the advance from Portugal, he was always in 
the front ; and the only wonder is how he managed to es- 
cape the enemy's shot, but his singular activity and intel- 
ligence frequently saved him. His hatred to the French 
was, I believe, occasioned by his father and brother, 
who were peasants, having been murdered by a French 
foraging party. On this day he gave many awful proofs 
of this feeling by mercilessly stabbing and mangling the 
wounded French he came up to. In this massacre he was, 
however, stopped by a veteran of our regiment, who, 
although suffering from a severe wound in the face, was so 
exasperated at the Spaniard's cruelty, that he knocked 
him down with a blow from the butt of his rifle. It was 
only by force we could prevent the Spaniard from stabbing 
him on the spot. 

I now observed the Duke come riding up with some of 
his staff ; and, seeing the confusion the enemy were in, 
cried out to one of his aides-de-camp, " Send up a few of 
Ross's guns ; here is work for them :" saying to us at the 
same time, "That's right, my lads ; keep up a good fire," 
as he galloped in our rear to the right. In an instant up 
came Ross's guns, and commenced peppering them at the 
distance of not more than three hundred yards. Here the 
whole seemed blocked together in a mass, while we stuck 
to them like leeches. 

When we arrived close to the barriers of Vittoria, we 

had seen the British advance with bare muzzles or with no bayonets, would they 
have given way with their own bayonets fixed to oppose them. If they did, they 
ought to be hanged, from the Colonel downwards. On the other hand, if the 
English had attempted to charge with bare muzzles against fixed bayonets, each 
man from the commanding officer down should be sent to a madhouse. 

Upon this then I should say, if my opinion be acceptable, that the bayonets 
had better remain in present use until such time as we can bargain with the 
French or other enemies to disuse them. 



A SOLDIER. 157 

found them blocked up by a great portion of the French 
waggons, bearing the materiel of their army. After 
passing the gates, we were still engaged through the town 
skirmishing with their rear-guard ; but, notwithstanding 
the street-firing, many of the inhabitants threw open their 
windows, and, appearing at their balconies, welcomed us 
with vivas, while the ladies, according to the established 
mode threw flowers into the streets on us, as we passed 
along. 

In following up the enemy, a few other men and myself 
had left the company a little in the rear. While going 
through the square I was fortunate enough to save the life 
of a French soldier who had been wounded. He was 
endeavouring, poor fellow ! to follow in the route of the 
French, when observing me coming up, he dropped his 
musket, with which he had been assisting himself, and 
intimated that he surrendered ; a Spanish vagabond, 
however, observing him, brandished a club, evidently 
intending to give the Frenchman the coup de grace" when 
he was knocked down. The poor Frenchman expressed 
his gratitude, but we were obliged to leave him, probably 
after all to the same fate he had just been rescued from, 
unless he fell into the hands of our troops who were 
coming up at the time. 

A few minutes after this, some of the 10th Hussars and 
a party of the Life Guards came dashing through the 
town, sword in hand, shouting as if they had taken it by 
storm. 

When I had passed the gates, and forced my way 
through the immense quantity of baggage that blocked up 
the further end of the town, and through which the 
cavalry could scarcely pass, I beheld a French mounted 
officer, sword in hand, escorting a carriage and four out of 
the town. My comrade and myself immediately fired, 
when the officer fell. At the same moment the carriage 
stopped. On rushing up to the vehicle we perceived it 
contained two ladies, evidently of high rank. They 
seemed much alarmed as the balls kept whisking round 
them from both sides. We desired them not to entertain 
any fears for their safety, as we would not harm them. 



158 ADVENTURES OF 

While thus engaged an officer of the 1 Oth Hussars came 
galloping up, flourishing his sword over his head. Not 
knowing his uniform at first, I cocked my rifle, upon 
which he exclaimed " I am an English officer, Sir/' Hear- 
ing this, I stepped on one side of the carriage, but in 
withdrawing I observed a small but exceedingly heavy 
portmanteau that was carried by a Spanish muleteer in 
the French service. He was in the act of conveying it 
towards the town, and as I thought I contributed more 
towards its capture, I made him lay it down — not, indeed, 
before I was compelled to give him a few whacks of my 
rifle in the ribs* My comrades had gone in another direc- 
tion, so that I had no one to claim a portion of my booty, 
which on inspection I found to consist of several small 
bags filled with gold and silver in doubloons and dollars. 
Although I never knew exactly the amount, I should 
think it not less than ,£1000. I afterwards learnt that 
the lady in the carriage was no other than the Queen of 
Spain, the wife of Joseph Bonaparte.* The officer of 
hussars, I also heard, obtained possession of the baton of 
Josephf himself from the same carriage. , 

My chief anxiety now was how to secure my prize ; and, 
when all who had an opportunity were employed in 
reaping some personal advantages from our victory, I 
determined not to be backward, but this was a difficult 
thing to accomplish. As I could not well carry the port- 
manteau from its weight, I soon found means, taking one 
of the many mules that were blocking up the road to bear 
the valuable load ; but being at a loss how to fasten the 
portmanteau, I resorted for aid to a sergeant and two men 
of the 10th Hussars, who were passing. For this service 
I, perhaps, incautiously rewarded them too liberally, by 
giving them several handfuls of dollars. In doing this 
they got a glimpse of the gold, half of which they 
demanded. Perceiving the probability of being thus 
deprived of the only prize I had made after years of hard- 
ship and suffering — and particularly by those new-comers, 
as this regiment had newly joined from England, made it 

* Query Countess of Gazan. t Query Jourdain's baton. 



A SOLDIER. 159 

still worse — I inwardly resolved to forfeit it but with my 
life. So catching up my loaded rifle, which I had leant 
against a gun-carriage, I instantly cocked, and, retiring 
three or four paces, brought it to my shoulder, swearing I 
would shoot the first man dead that placed his hands upon 
my treasure. My determined air, and the ferocity of my 
appearance — my face being completely covered with per- 
spiration and gunpowder — induced them to pause, and 
finally to desist. Taking the sergeant's word not to 
attempt molesting me, with his assistance I completed 
the strapping of my treasure, and departed for the 
camp.* 

I had not proceeded far with the intention of gaining 
the battalion, when I observed the Duke of Wellington 
forcing his way, with some of his staff, through gun- 
carriages and waggons into Vittoria, To my great 
relief, however, he took no notice of myself and mule. 
In fact, his Grace was too much occupied in securing 
the brilliant results of our victory in the capture of the 
entire materiel of the French army which fell into our 
hands. 

Almost all our men at this time, I must remark, to use 
a phrase much in vogue among us, were endeavouring to 
see what they could make — in other words take, I reached 
our camp, however, in safety. 

This night we encamped amidst the wreck of the French 
army, every man bringing into his camp ground whatever 
he fancied — for the unfortunate enemy were compelled to 
leave everything behind them, even to their women and 
children — so that, if our fellows were inclined to be honest, 
their good fortune would not allow them. The ground 
occupied by our regiment was near a small village, a little 
off the main road that leads to Pampeluna. 

As soon as our fires were lighted, the men, who had 

* Strange to say, this very sergeant, whose name was Lee, and who had the 
fame of being the best boxer in his regiment, after the battle of Waterloo, lay 
wounded in the bed next to mine in the hospital at Antwerp. " Holloa, Rifle- 
man !" said he, when he first perceived me near him, " don't you recollect me !" 
At first I did not. " By God," said he, again, "you frightened me more than a 
bit at Vittoria, when guarding your money-bags." This soon settled the recog- 
nition ; but, poor fellow ! he died after the amputation of his arm. 



160 ADVENTURES OF 

been under arms from three o'clock in the morning until 
eleven at night, and consequently had not tasted food for 
the whole of the day, began to fill their hungry maws 
from the luxuries of the French camp. Roast fowls, 
hams, mutton, &c. were in abundance, and at midnight the 
wine and brandy went round in horn tots which we 
generally carried about us. The men mostly lay stretched 
on the ground, their feet towards the fires, and elbows 
resting on their knapsacks ; as soon as the grog began to 
rouse up their spirits from the effects of the day's fatigue, 
each one commenced inquiries about their absent comrades, 
for Riflemen in action being always extended, seldom know 
who falls until the affray is over. 

" Blood an ounds," said Dan Kelly, bouncing up from 
his reclining posture; "don't drink all the wine, boys, 
until we hear something about our absent messmates. 
Does any of you know where Jack Connor is ?" 

"He was shot through the body, when we took the 
first gun in the little village near the main road," was the 
reply. 

"Where is "Will John," asked Bob Roberts, with a 
sudden glance of suspense. 

" The ball passed through his head," said another, " I 
saw poor Will fall." 

"Musha, boys! is there any hope of poor Jemmy 
Copely getting over his wounds ?" said Tom Tracy, 
earnestly, lifting his head from his knapsack. 

"Poor Copely!" replied another; "both his legs were 
knocked off by a round shot." 

Tracy laid his head on his kit again, and was silent. 
Here each man gave a short account of his fallen comrade. 

" Why, by Jasus !" exclaimed Tracy, who had been 
eagerly listening all the while, " by Jasus, they have kilt 
half our mess. But never mind, boys, fill a tot, fill a tot, 

and may I be d d but here's luck:" he placed the 

wine to his mouth, but took it away untasted, and laid it 
on the ground. " Poor Jemmy Copely ! poor Jemmy ! 
they had drilled him well with balls before, damn them, 
now they have finished him. The best comrade I ever 
had, or ever will have." 



A SOLDIER. l6l 

The last part of the sentence was uttered in a broken 
accent as he wiped his eye, then commenced rilling a 
wooden pipe, the bowl made from a tailor's thimble, his 
head stooping all the while as if to hide the large drops 
that unconsciously rolled over his nose ; a short pause 
took place among the group until Tracy, recovering him- 
self a little, took up the tot of wine and drank it off, and, 
jumping up at the same moment, with a loud voice, he 
called out to all, " Hear me, boys, hear me ! hear what I 
am going to say." A deep silence followed. He knelt on 
his knapsack, his hands squeezed together in the attitude 
of prayer. "May the Lord God," ejaculated Tracy, 
" grant that those fellows in yonder camp remain where 
they are until we have the pleasure of thrashing them for 
the gap they have this day made in our mess." 

"Amen! amen!" responded a dozen voices, with an 
emphasis that would have done credit to a clerk in a 
country church, and I am certain with a better inclination 
for the desired object. 

Tracy laid himself at his length once more, and after 
recapitulating their different losses, and the good qualities 
of their fallen comrades, but taking care not to mention 
any of their bad ones, every man gradually relaxed into a 
sleep, from which nothing could arouse him, save the 
sound of the bugles, or the hard cracking of the rifle, 
which ever brings the soldier on his legs again, ready to 
advance or retreat, or as the night closed over the column, 
to lament or be lamented, as one of the fallen or absent 
messmates. 

Those unacquainted with a camp-fire, after a hard- 
fought battle, can have little idea of its true sublimity, 
while leaning on my rifle, surveying the scene at this 
dead hour of night ; it impressed me with more awe than 
any that I had before witnessed. Here I stood, as it were, 
a solitary sentinel in the midst of twenty thousand men, 
yet so silent, you might have thought yourself secreted 
within the walls of a cloister ; while, by the moon, now and 
then hiding itself behind a cloud, might be observed the 
faint light of the French out-post fires that occasionally 
caught the eye like meteors. Again emerging from her 

M 



162 ADVENTURES OF 

mantle, by her clear light might here and there be 
seen the dead bodies of French soldiers, not yet interred, 
ever distinguished by their large red shoulder-knots. 
Turning the eye to my comrades, whose happy repose I 
envied, might be seen blood oozing from the furrow 
made by a French bullet, while the perforated cap lay 
beside its owner. How sweet is the soldier sleep when 
such repose is earned by the fatigue of eighteen hours 
hard fighting. That gave each man a double relish for 
repose, knowing it was his own courage gained the spot 
of ground on which he laid. The crackling of the fires 
soon ceased for want of fuel, and nothing remained but 
the embers ; the whole camp was as still as the grave ; 
nothing to disturb the soldiers' repose, but the casual 
braying of the donkeys, that answered each other from 
camp to camp, and gradually died away in the echo of the 
distant woods. 

I quietly walked round the fires to see that none of the 
men's pouches were near it ; but, no — there was each 
man with his rifle loaded, and leaning on his arm, close to 
his breast, hugged with all the affection a fond lover would 
press to his bosom the girl of his heart — this was our 
usual custom, as riflemen seldom pile arms ; yet with all, 
I never knew an accident to occur by the rifles going 
off. i 

The next morning the sale of the spoils, which fell into 
our hands, took place in the village, near the camp-ground, 
where our battalion lay. The Spaniards were in general 
the purchasers, and property late belonging to the French, 
such as uniforms, horses, camp-equipage, &c, was sold in 
abundance at about one- tenth of its value. Mules worth 
thirty or forty dollars brought on an average three. As I 
had no means of conveyance for the spoil I had obtained, 
I set about depositing it where I thought it would be safe : 
three hundred pounds I intrusted to our quarter- master, 
and several sums to other officers of the battalion, dis- 
tributing nearly the remainder of the silver, to the amount, 
I suppose, of about one hundred pounds, among the men 
of my own squad, who undertook to carry it for me ; very 
little of the latter, however, I ever received back. But 



A SOLDIER. 163 

after all money, as may be imagined, was of very little use 
during some of the hardships we afterwards endured, when 
I state, that I frequently offered a doubloon for a single 
glass of rum, and was not always able to obtain it. 

About twelve o'clock we marched in pursuit of the 
enemy through the town of Salvatierra, many of our men 
gibing me for my wealth, saying, among other agreeable 
things, that if I fell they would take care of my knapsack 
for me. To tell the truth, I was not now over anxious to 
go much to the front, as I began to look upon my life as 
of some value. 

On our second day's march we came up with the rear- 
guard of the enemy, who made a stand in the road, 
assisted by the only gun they had carried from Vittoria. 
The first shot fired from this piece took off the arm of one 
of our corporals at the socket. But on our dashing at 
them they soon abandoned their gun, which we took, 
making the first and last piece of ordnance we had cap- 
tured from them on this retreat. 

We halted a couple of days in a small village opposite 
Pampeluna ; and, as I considered that our fellows had 
contributed towards my greatness in money matters, I 
could do no less than treat them to a dinner ; but unfor- 
tunately, the place afforded no other luxuries than bacon, 
eggs, and wine, for which the inhabitants took care to 
charge treble : I paid ten doubloons for three flitches of 
bacon, and three pig-skins of wine. This we enjoyed 
within the walls of a house that the French had burnt the 
roof off on their retreat. There were some excellent toasts 
given, such as — " May we have another brush with them 
before they get to Paris," &c. &e. 

As nothing of any interest to the reader occurred for 
some time, I shall merely say, that we continued in pur- 
suit of one division of the French army night and day. 
During this period the fatigue we underwent was almost 
incredible, nor could we have supported it but for the 
excellent wine with which that part of the country then 
abounded, and which we all had plenty of money to pur- 
chase. After continuing these harassing marches for 
several days, we at length chased them into France We 

m 2 



164 ADVENTURES OF 

next retraced our steps in some degree to Pampeluna, in 
the suburbs of which city we remained a few days, and 
from thence we again advanced in the direction of the 
Pyrenees, and took up our quarters at the pretty little 
town of San Estevan ; here we halted some days also. Our 
next march was to Lesaca. The enemy had possession of 
the heights of Santa Barbara, from whence we dislodged 
them after some hard righting. We remained upon these 
mountains for several days, but the enemy making an 
endeavour to relieve Pampeluna which some of our troops 
were then besieging, a part of our division were ordered to 
cross the Bidassoa to frustrate this attempt. This could 
only be done by a forced march at night. We were 
obliged to have torches and lighted straw to enable us to 
find our way over the mountains, which were in most 
places rugged and precipitous, and even without the 
semblance of a path. The fatigue incident to that night- 
march, I think I may say, was greater than any of the 
men of our battalions had before endured ; and after all, 
you could fire a rifle-ball to where we started from. 

Accidents were numerous, many of our men had severe 
falls, and numbers of rifles were broken. But all our 
hurry was of no avail, as the enemy had been already frus- 
trated in throwing supplies into Pampeluna. We had 
again the agreeable task of retracing our steps, with the 
same hurry we had advanced. By this addition to the 
fatigue we had previously endured, we lost many of our 
men who were unable to endure it. There was a sort of 
rivalry between the regiments of our division who should 
hold out the longest, urged by this feeling many continued 
marching until they fell and expired by the road-side. I 
myself, on the second day fainted ; but, on having my 
stock taken off, recovered sufficiently to stagger on and 
finish the march. 

Descending from the mountains we pursued our march 
till we came to the bridge that crosses the Bidassoa, where 
we beheld the French moving along on the other side of 
the river. The poor fellows, like ourselves, seemed dread- 
fully harassed. Part of our battalion commenced firing 
upon them across the river, every shot telling as they 



A SOLDIER. 165 

re treated. To the honour of the British soldiers, however, 
I am happy to say, that many of our men knowing the 
sufferings of the French from what they had themselves 
endured, declined firing, while they called out to the others 
to spare them, as it was little better than murder. We 
remained encamped here this night, and the next morning 
marched back to the heights of Santa Barbara. 

As soon as we had arrived on the hill, and were anti- 
cipating a little rest, the assembly sounded, and we were 
ordered to drive the enemy from a high mountain which 
they occupied on our right. This was a heavy task at the 
time ; but to it we went, and in extended order mounted 
the hill, on the summit of which the enemy were clustered 
as thick as bees on a hive. After some very hard fighting 
we carried their position, but not before we had lost many 
men. While engaged I lost a friend to whom I was much 
attached, a sergeant named Kelly. He had just invited 
me to take a draught of wine out of his canteen, and was 
in the act of handing it to me, when he received a shot 
through the right temple that came out at the eye. I 
never before saw a man die so hard. He writhed about, 
poor fellow, in the greatest agony, without it being in my 
power to afford him the slightest relief. Some of our men 
raising a shout that the enemy were flying, I was obliged 
to leave him for a time. On my return I found him quite 
dead. This was a bad day's work. Another regiment 
was left in charge of the hill, and we returned to our 
camp ground by the river-side. 

On the 25th of August, it being the anniversary on 
which the regiment was raised, called among us " The 
Regiment's Birth-day," a general jollity was kept up 
throughout the regiment. On this occasion I have often 
reflected with pleasure on having assisted in saving a 
gallant soldier from the consequences of a pecuniary loss 
he had sustained, and which might have embittered the 
remainder of his life. I allude to a pay-sergeant of one of 
the companies of our battalion, who, getting rather tipsy, 
was robbed while in that state of ^831 belonging to his 
company — the first money, indeed, that had ever been 
intrusted to his hands, having only just been appointed 



166 ADVENTURES OF 

pay-sergeant. The circumstance had so strong an effect 
upon him, that on waking me up the following morning 
and acquainting me with his loss, he stated to me his 
determination of deserting, as his credit would be for ever 
destroyed in the regiment, and he could not endure re- 
maining with the battalion afterwards. Having money by 
me, I felt much pleasure in arresting the despair that 
seemed to take possession of the mind of a gallant soldier, 
and one whom I much esteemed : I enabled him to make 
up his losses. Some time after, this very sergeant obtained 
a commission in the second battalion of our regiment : this 
was the late Quarter-master Robert Fairfoot. 

Having by me still a very considerable sum, the remnant 
of my prize at Yittoria, I was naturally apprehensive 
respecting its safety, particularly as I had no place to keep 
it but in my knapsack, which I could not always carry 
about with me. 

I was consequently obliged to intrust my treasure to the 
care of a comrade of the name of Bandle, who, true to his 
charge, never gave me reason to repent my confidence. 
Many were the stratagems resorted to, to persuade Bandle 
to relinquish his guard. Sometimes he would be suddenly 
warned for duty by the non-commissioned officers, as 
these last assured me " for fun" only, in hopes he would 
leave it behind him ; but Bandle was always awake, and 
on these occasions would take my knapsack on his back 
and leave his own. He was wakeful as a weasel, and 
faithful as the dog, for both of which qualities I took good 
care not to be ungrateful. 

San Sebastian was now closely invested by the British, 
and eventually, the breaches being considered practicable, 
preparations were made for the assault. Volunteers ac- 
cordingly were required from our regiment. The duty was 
so "attractive" that although two only were to be selected 
out of each company, six stepped forward from ours. This 
brought on a controversy, and lots were drawn according 
to regulation, and decided in favour of two, named Royston 
and Ryan. 

The reader may judge of the value attached to this 
service, when I tell him that the offer of ^620 was 



A SOLDIER. 167 

made and refused for the exchange, thus illustrating the 
truth of the great dramatist, 

u He that is truly delicate to war 
Hath no self-love ; nor he, that loves himself, 
Hath not essentially, but by circumstance. 
The name of valour." 

The next day the town was to he attacked. * Our men 
were all on the fidget to know the result, and avery tree 
and hillock within sight or hearing of the scene was taken 
possession of. 

At ahout twelve o'clock, a. m., the breaches were as- 
saulted, and the place carried after a severe contest. 

Three or four hundred French, unable from the great 
rains to ford the Bidassoa, charged fiercely upon one of 
our companies, and another of the second battalion, then 
posted at the bridge of Vera. After a sanguinary struggle 
they effected their purpose, and escaped. They were the 
remnant of the French troops that had forded the river in 
the morning, and whom our Spanish force distinguished 
themselves in repulsing. After this we remained quiet for 
several days in our camp ground. 

It was about this time that those men of the 52nd, who 
were fortunate enough to have survived the "forlorn- 
hope" of Rodrigo and Badajoz, were distinguished with a 
badge of laurel on the right arm. It was given by their 
commanding officer as a testimonial of their gallant con- 
duct, which was expressed by the two letters V. S. or 
"valiant stormer" placed beneath the wreath. Why the 
men of our battalion and those of the 43rd, who had 
equally distinguished themselves on those occasions were 
not similarly honoured, I know not. 

For my own part, all I ever received in the way of 
reward, for my services as a stormer, was the sum of six 
dollars. This was after the taking of Badajoz. In the 
French service, those men who volunteered in the ranks 
of "Les enfants perdus" were always first in the list for 
commissions, and were distinguished also by a cross of the 
Legion of Honour, which was so respected amongst their 
countrymen, that even their comrades were always obliged 
to salute him who wore it. How must the heart of 



168 ADVENTURES OF 

those thus distinguished beat at the possession of such a 
mark. How different is the case of the British soldier ! 
This " hope " in his country remains unnoticed, and he 
quits its service " equally forlorn" for obscurity without 
distinction, save that which points him out with his empty 
sleeves, or wooden stump limping his way to Chelsea. 
Some, perhaps, may argue that an improvement took place 
at Waterloo. That may be, if we allude to those, who on 
that occasion, performed their first and last military feat, 
and came away unscathed. How "pleasant 5 ' then must 
it be to the old Peninsulars, whose battles fought and won 
outnumber perhaps the men of their company, to see 
whole squads of Waterloos strutting about with medals 
dangling on jackets which, as their first and last, had 
scarcely been on long enough to collect the dust of a 
"donkey's trot." 

In this camp an order also arrived from the Horse 
Guards for the appointment of a colour-sergeant in each 
company, to be considered as senior or sergeant-major 
with an extra sixpence per day. As no badges (the cross 
swords) had arrived from England, the deficiency was 
supplied by our master-tailor, who formed an imitation 
with coloured silks worked on the arms of the men 
appointed. 



CHAPTEE XX. 

We encamp on the banks of the Bidassoa— Scenes on the water-edge — A narrow- 
escape with a lady in question, " Ah, there's the rub" — Tom Crawley and the 
biscuits — Our third battalion carry the heights of Vera — The French camp, 
"the last of the French" — The Pyrenees — The mountain father — Up hill and 
down dale — The battle of the Nivelle — Manly and Spanish affection — Blanco 
again — His gallantry — Tom Crawley — A hug from a granny dear — The last 
struggle — Crawley's departure — A tear for Tom — A reel — St Jean de Luz — The 
French endeavour to make a stand — Colonel Sir Andrew Barnard wounded — 
Death messengers fly fast. 

We remained encamped, for several weeks, close to the 
river Bidassoa, Lesaca in our rear, and Vera in our front. 
We used to amuse ourselves while here, bathing. This 



A SOLDIER. 169 

river which divides the French and Spanish territories, we 
were on the eve of crossing to go into France. It was 
heart-stirring to witness our men, as it were, unconsciously 
exposing to liberated Spain the evidence of the dangers 
they had endured for her liberation, stripped on its banks, 
and prepared to dash into the clear water, the perforated 
and wounded exteriors of the Rifles proved what they had 
seen and suffered. But the veterans, not thinking thus, 
generally amused themselves on these occasions by remark- 
ing and jesting to each other on the peculiar situation of 
the different bullet holes, and the direction the shot had 
taken in passing through them. 

One clay I remember nearly losing my life by my own 
folly. It was as follows : — We had a very handsome 
little Spanish girl attached to one of our sergeants, named 
Dillon : she by some means got to the other side of the 
river, which was generally occupied by the enemy, crying 
bitterly, and begging of the men, that were on our side, to 
get her over, as she was afraid to go to a bridge lower 
down lest she should be taken by the French. Having a 
respect for her, I instantly stripped off all except my 
trowsers, and swam across — for here the river was not 
wide but deep — and, without a moment's hesitation, placed 
pretty Louisa, for so she was called, on my back, with the 
intention, as I thought, of bringing her to our side. 
Placing her arms round my neck, I waded as far as I was 
able, and then commenced swimming ; but I no sooner got 
into the deep water than she squeezed me so tight round 
the neck that I lost all power, although a good swimmer, 
and down I went. At first our fellows thought I was 
playing tricks ; but on rising and bellowing out for assist- 
ance, they became alarmed, for she stuck to me all the 
time like a leech. Several of the men upon seeing me go 
down a second time, stripped and jumped in to my assist- 
ance ; one of the name of Kelly, of my own company, 
diving down, for the place was twelve feet deep, seized her 
by her long hair, and brought both to the surface of the 
water ; and, by the assistance of the rest, dragged us to 
land insensible. When I came to myself, I found our 
head surgeon, Dr. Burke, with some of our fellows^ 



170 ADVENTURES OF 

rubbing me to life again ; and, with the assistance of a 
little brandy they had poured down our throats, both 
recovered. For myself, I was able to walk to my tent in 
the course of some time : but not so with the pretty 
Louisa, as she was kept wrapped in blankets the whole 
day. Poor thing ! she remained with the regiment while 
in Spain, and afterwards followed us to England ; but 
what ultimately became of her, I know not. 

Here my old friend, Tom Crawley, got the whole of our 
regiment out of a precious scrape. It was as follows : — 
Our division was served out with linen bags, made exactly 
to fit across our knapsacks, and, at the same time, three 
days' biscuit (3 lbs.) in each bag. This biscuit was to be 
kept strapped on the top of each man's knapsack, well 
tied, with brigade orders for no man to taste a morsel of 
it, unless given out in written orders to that effect, as our 
brigadier expected we should be on short commons while 
on the Pyrenees, and this was to be, in case of scarcity, our 
last resource. These bags were examined regularly every 
morning by officers commanding companies, but, while 
seen strapped snugly on the knapsacks, were considered 
by them all right. However, our fellows, who were never 
at a loss for a subterfuge, devised the following plan to 
evade the officers' vigilance : they eat their biscuits except 
one whole one, which they kept at top to be seen, and in 
their place substituted chips. This passed on very well 
for some time, as the sight of the top biscuit satisfied the 
officers, until one day Captain Johnson of our regiment 
took it into his head to see his company's biscuit shaken 
out, and whilst on private parade ordered them to untie 
their bags to see their biscuit. The first man on the 
right of his company was the unfortunate Tom Crawley. 

"Untie your bag, Crawley/' says the Captain. Tom 
instantly did as he was ordered, and showed the Captain a 
very good-looking biscuit a-top. 

"Shake the whole out," said the Captain, "until I see 
if they are getting mouldy." 

" Oh, faith, there is no fear of that," said the astonished 
Crawley, looking the Captain hard in the face, at the 
same time casting a woeful eye on his bag. However, the 



A SOLDIER. 171 

Captain was not to be baulked, and taking the bag by 
both ends, emptied out its contents, which turned out to 
be nothing more nor less than a few dry chips. Poor 
Tom, as upright as a dart, stood scratching his head, 
with a countenance that would make a saint laugh. 

" What have you done with your biscuit ? have you 
eaten it, Sir V said the Captain. Tom, motionless, made 
no answer. " Do you know it is against orders ?" 

" To be sure I do," says Torn 5 " but, for God's sake, 
Sir, do you take me for a South American jackass, that 
carries goold and eats straw ?"* This answer not only set 
the Captain, but the whole company, in roars of laughter. 
On further inspection, the Captain found his whole com- 
pany, indeed the regiment, had adopted the same plan. 
Through this our bags were taken away, and we relieved 
from carrying chips. 

About the beginning of October we had an opportu- 
nity of witnessing the gallantry of our third battalion. 
Although they had not seen our service in the country, 
yet on this occasion they showed themselves " old hands," 
and worthy of their green jackets. They had to dislodge 
the enemy, then holding possession of a high hill behind 
Vera. This they did in most excellent style, in the sight 
of our division and the fourth . Our battalion was not suf- 
fered to remain idle, and we soon joined in pursuit of the 
enemy, who took refuge in the valleys of France. On 
taking possession of their camp ground we found a whole 
range of huts, constructed in the most ingenious manner, 
of turf and stone. One of our men came in for rather a 
novel prize : this was a large monkey, which we kept in 
the regiment for some time. One strange antipathy this 
animal was remarkable for, was his utter dislike to the 
sight of a woman. 

On the morning of the 9th, the day after the preceding 
skirmish of Vera heights, we took ground considerably to 
the right, marching along the summit of the Pyrenees 
until we came to a very high hill, on the top of which 
stood the remains of an ancient castle. Our men styled 

* Tom served under General Whitelcck in South America. 



172 ADVENTURES OF 

the hill the (i father of the Pyrenees/' as it was by far the 
highest mountain we had ever seen, and was called LaRhune 
by the French, who had possession of it. On our arrival 
we had the satisfaction of compelling them, after a smart 
skirmish, to evacuate their lofty tenement. Of the diffi- 
culty of this enterprize some notion may be entertained 
when it is known that our men had, in most instances, to 
I crawl up the mountain on their hands and knees, in con- 
sequence of its steepness. The French, fortunately for 
them, had a less precipitous side to retreat down, or they 
must all have been destroyed. 

My curiosity, after this, led me to explore the old build- 
ing, in company with one or two comrades. It was 
originally the ruin of a very strong fortress or castle, in 
which, I subsequently heard, the Spaniards used formerly 
to keep state prisoners. After searching about for some 
time we discovered a narrow pathway that conducted us to 
a cellar or cavern, which, to our surprise, we found 
tenanted by an old gentleman with a venerable beard, and 
who received us very courteously. He seemed a hermit 
from his appearance, but how he managed to maintain his 
residence against the dominion of eagles, vultures, and 
owls, as well as the occasional jar of contending parties, 
was a wonder he did not condescend to explain. The only 
gift we could obtain was a little spring water, which, after 
our scramble, was refreshing. The splendid view from our 
elevated position, however, made ample amends for our 
work. * 

Our battalion at this time was stationed about a mile 
below La Rhune, and greatly exposed to the storms of 
wind and rain that we experienced at this period, together 
with scarcity of provisions. Few of the country people 
visited us, so that even those in possession of money found 
little or no benefit from it. Meanwhile the French army, 
who were encamped about three-quarters of a mile in our 
front, we had reason to believe, were more fortunate, as 
they were plentifully supplied with provisions. Oc- 
casionally, too, some of our officers were visited by a 
supply that was smuggled past the French lines. 

A general attack upon the enemy was now daily ex- 



A SOLDIER, 173 

pected, as Lord Wellington with hfs staff had heen 
observed inspecting the enemy's position with more than 
ordinary care for the last two or three mornings. On the 
9th of November every disposition having been made for 
attack, the following morning ushered in the battle of the 
Nivelle. The company I belonged to being this night on 
picquet, we had orders on the first dawn of light to attack 
and drive in the enemy's picquet opposed to us ; and as 
we were preparing for the task, to our surprise we beheld 
the whole of our division about a hundred yards in our 
rear waiting to support us. As soon as our attack com- 
menced we could hear the alarm given by at least a 
hundred drums and bugles ; and as the light dawned more 
clearly, we could see the French columns all in motion, 
The remainder of our battalion and division coming up, we 
were soon hotly engaged, a valley only partially separating 
us from the main body of the enemy. 

After we had routed them from their first line, and 
were getting close to their second, an incident occurred 
that fell under my observation, and I may say, of the 
greater part of our company. There was a man of the 
name of Mauley, a shoemaker, who fell shot through the 
head. This man, nearly the w T hole time we had been in 
Spain, lived with a Spanish woman, who was tenderly 
attached to him. She always got as near to her lover as 
possible during action, generally on a donkey. On this 
occasion some of our wounded men passing, informed her 
Mauley was killed. The poor girl was almost distracted ; 
leaving her donkey and stores behind her (for she acted in 
some degree as one of the suttlers to our regiment), she 
rushed down to the spot where Mauley had fallen. We 
were then in the thick of the fight, and our only safety 
was cover, as the balls came as thick as hail, so that every 
moment I expected to see the poor woman shot. She, 
however, seemed callous to every danger : throwing herself 
on the blood-stained body of her lover, she commenced 
giving way to the most appalling ebullition of grief, tearing 
her hair and wringing her hands. 

The gallantry of Blanco, the revengeful Spaniard, whom 



174 ADVENTURES OF 

I have previously mentioned at Vittoria, was conspicuous 
on this occasion. He had been an intimate friend of 
Mauley. Seeing the danger his countrywoman was ex- 
posed to, he rushed boldly from his cover, and placing 
himself in front of her, continued loading and firing at the 
enemy, loudly swearing all the time such oaths only as a 
Spaniard can do justice to. Notwithstanding the real 
horrors of the scene, it was impossible to resist the impulse 
of laughter at the fierce grimaces and oaths of Blanco, 
who escaped as it were almost by a miracle. 

A part of our division at this time were endeavouring to 
enter the French lines on our right. But the enemy 
seemed determined to defend their huts, which they had 
doubtless been at considerable trouble to construct, and the 
action there was close and sanguinary ; part of our battalion 
taking them on the right flank, they were eventually 
obliged to yield. As soon as we had arrived at the huts, 
which they had arranged in most excellent order, and from 
which they had reluctantly been compelled to retreat, in 
passing along a row of them I heard a scuffle going on in 
one, and on entering it I beheld a huge French grenadier, 
with red wings, and my old acquaintance Tom Crawley 
struggling together on the ground. The Frenchman had 
been surprised, but was getting the better of Tom, when 
my appearance at once determined the matter, and the 
grenadier surrendered. 

It appeared from what I could make out that the 
Frenchman in his hasty retreat from the hut had forgotten 
some of his needfuls, and on his return for them, was met 
at the doorway by Tom, who, according to his old custom, 
was preparing to explore its interior. Crawley was im- 
mediately attacked by the grenadier with fixed bayonet. 
Poor Tom, in his attempt to parry off a thrust, received 
the blade through his right hand, and bled profusely. We 
did not kill the Frenchman but left him to the mercy of 
the Ca9adores, who were following close behind us. Tom 
went to the rear, and I never saw him afterwards, nor can 
I say I have since heard of him. Many an anxious 
inquiry was made, many an old scene was revived, and 



A SOLDIER. 175 

passed current amongst us, and Tom Crawley will live in 
our recollections as long as we can enjoy the good company 
of a comrade. 

The enemy, although retreating, did so in an orderly 
manner, keeping up a tolerably brisk fire. I had no 
sooner regained the line of skirmishers than I received a 
severe hit just about the centre of my waist, that nearly 
knocked me down, and for the moment I imagined myself 
mortally wounded through the body; however, on my 
examining, I found myself only slightly bruised. A ball 
had actually stuck in the serpent* of my waistbelt, from 
whence it was afterwards taken out with difficulty. 

After I had recovered from the shock, I joined in the 
pursuit of the enemy, who once or twice attempted to 
make a stand, but we were close at their heels, so they 
thought it better to pursue their way at an accelerated 
pace, covered, however, by some battalions of light troops, 
who displayed considerable coolness. The French de- 
scended the heights, at the foot of which stands the pretty 
little town of St. Jean de Luz, with its white houses. 
Our battalion was hotly following, engaged in sharp 
skirmishing, when our gallant Colonel, Sir Andrew 
Barnard, who was very conspicuous during the day, on a 
brown long-tailed horse, received a shot in the breast. On 
running up to him, which I did with several other men, 
we perceived him spit blood, but he would not dismount. 
One of our buglers supported him on his horse, while 
another led it to the rear. 

Immediately after this occurrence, my attention was 
attracted by seeing the 52nd regiment charge up the side 
of a hill on our right, and take a fort. Shots are very 
strange things, and fly fast: a Sergeant Watts, of the 
Rifles, at this moment, received a ball in the head, being 
next to him, he laid hold of me with both hands, at the 
same time calling out — " Am I dead ? Am I dead ?" 
Poor fellow ! he was mortally wounded, and it was with 
difficulty I could extricate myself from his deadly grasp. 

The French, after a severe loss, made good their retreat 

* The brass clasp or hook that fastens the belt. 



176 ADVENTURES OF 

across the river that leads to St. Jean de Luz. With our 
usual luck we took up our camp on the side of a bleak and 
barren hill for the night. After this we got into better 
quarters on the other side of the river. This was at a 
chateau called Arcangues. We were as usual in the im- 
mediate front of the enemy, and our outlying sentinels and 
theirs were little more than thirty yards apart. While 
here, such a good feeling reigned among the French and 
our men, that they frequently went into each other's 
picquet houses — terms of intimacy which they extended to 
neither the Spanish nor Portuguese troops, for whom they 
expressed an unmeasured contempt. But this state of 
things at our outposts was too subversive of discipline to 
be tolerated by those in command, and of course was only 
done upon a reliance of mutual honour on the sly ; still it 
exhibits a pleasing picture of the absence of all revenge 
and prejudice on either side among men of opposing 
interests. This feeling, however, could not stay the effu- 
sion of blood that was still to be shed. 



CHAPTER XXL 

9th December— Our picquets driven in— We are nearly outflanked — We retire— 
A rally under the eye of Wellington — Lieutenant Hopwood and Sergeant 
Brotherwood killed— Excellent feeling between the French and English 
soldiers— Consequent General Order — Johnny Castles in the advance — Picquet- 
house— Murder at Tarbes— Blanco again— Collection made for the widow- 
Battle of Toulouse— " Amende Honourable"— We encamp on the banks of the 
Garonne — " Fall in"— The Spaniards make a mistake— General Picton recti- 
fies it— The enemy retreat into Toulouse— They evacuate the town— French 
leave— Theatre of Toulouse — " A Rifleman on the look out." 

On the 9th of December they drove in the picquets, 
which were chiefly furnished from our battalion. The 
columns of the enemy came briskly forward with the 
apparent intention of driving us from our position. Our 
company had been ordered to line some brushwood on the 
side of a lane that led from the chateau, where we received 
them with a fierce and deadly fire, as they came on, which 
they replied to with spirit, at the same time endeavouring 
to outflank our position. In assisting to repel this attempt 



A SOLDIER. 177 

we came in for a shower of shot, and Lieutenant Hopwood 
and Sergeant Brotherwood, with several more of our party, 
were killed on the spot. By this time they were getting 
round us, and our opponents perceiving how few our 
numbers were, comparatively to their own, at once at- 
tempted to close, and fairly obliged us to take to our heels 
down a field. From thence we sprang into the lane ; in 
doing which I remember dropping my cap, where it 
remained during the day, until I regained possession of 
it on the retreat of the enemy. 

At this period Lord Wellington and his staff were 
watching our motions through their glasses from the 
chateau, which some one made known. Seeing ourselves 
under the eye of the Commander-in-chief, we instantly 
rallied. Our third battalion meanwhile were hotly en- 
gaged on our left. They, however, found themselves 
unable to make any serious impression, and were not sorry, 
I dare say, when night closed upon their baffled columns. 
As to ourselves, we had little respite from the fatigues of 
the day, as we were busily employed in fortifying the 
chateau for the anticipated attack of the morrow. 

On the following morning however, the enemy retreated 
within their works, upon which we took possession of our 
former ground, where we found the bodies of Lieutenant 
Hopwood and of poor Brotherwood, both of which had 
been stripped, and covered partially with a little loose 
earth. 

After this we had a succession of fights or skirmishes 
with the enemy for the five or six days following, which is 
called the battle of Bayonne, but without eliciting any 
particular result. We still kept up an excellent private 
feeling on both sides at the outposts. As an instance, 
although I must remark a general order had been pro- 
mulgated prohibiting all intercourse with the enemy on 
pain of death, our company was on picquet near a dwelling 
called Garrett's house, when we clubbed half a dollar each, 
and sent a man into the French picquet-house to purchase 
brandy. It was, I recollect, Christmas-night. Grindle, 
the name of the man who was our messenger, staying 
longer than was usual, we became alarmed, and imagining 



178 ADVENTURES OF 

something must have happened to him, sent two other 
men in quest of him. These learnt from the nearest French 
sentry that Grindle was lying drunk in their picquet-house. 
Fearful that the circumstances should come to the know- 
ledge of Lieutenant Gardiner, the officer of our picquet, 
they went and brought Grindle back with them quite 
drunk ; but just as they were emerging from the French 
lines, who should ride down to the front post but Sir 
James Kempt, who commanded our division at that time. 
He instantly ordered Grindle to be confined ; he was so 
fortunate as to escape, however, with only a slight punish- 
ment. 

About the beginning of January, 1814, the enemy were 
seen advancing, as we understood, to straighten our lines, 
that were in a half circle. With three or four others, I 
was ordered to hold possession of a small farm-house that 
communicated with some cross roads, and to keep up a 
brisk fire until the assemblee sounded, in which case we 
were to retreat upon the company, who occupied a hedge 
two hundred yards in our rear. On our right was a high 
stone wall, and on our left, in parallel, was a hedge also 
that served as a cover for the French who, by this time, 
had possession of it. Between was an open field, our only 
passage. As soon as the assemblee was heard, we of course, 
were on the alert to retreat, but this was to be accom- 
plished only at very imminent risk, for the moment we 
showed our noses, we were saluted with a regular hailstorm 
of bullets, which put us all in rather moody condition. It 
was proposed, however, to retire by independent files. 

The first to " run the gauntlet" was a tall, gaunt Irish- 
man, and such a shower whizzed about him as almost 
unnerved the rest of us. Johnny Castles, who had figured 
at Badajoz with a rope round his neck, and yet had escaped, 
was one of the party. He was particularly at a stand- 
still; since the "hanging business" he had made up his 
mind to live for ever, and had grown fat on it ; but his 
corpulency now threatened to mark him out. 

" Oh, dom your limbs," growled Johnny, in the true 
Caledonian dialect, with an awful grin, "ye are the rascals 
to drink and carouse with as ye did yesterday. Eh, look 



A SOLDIER. 179 

at 'em ! dom their eyes, they are sure to hit me !" and 
away he bolted, ducking his head, his face half averted all 
the way. Johnny, however, was spherical, and puffed and 
blowed like a whale, while the French peppered away at 
him in prime style, the dust rising from the balls in every 
direction. Johnny however, escaped, with a brace of 
samples through his knapsack and mess-tin, and rolled 
over the hedge. 

Taking advantage of the welcome given to Castles, 
Gilbert and I, without allowing them to reload, followed, 
and as the devil would have it, the pair of us arrived as 
safely. There now only remained our comrade Jones, a 
good-looking Welshman, who quickly came after us, but 
he, poor fellow ! was met half-way by a shot. 

After all, the enemy never took the house, for by a 
reinforcement from the 52nd we beat them back again. I 
often laugh at the recollection of Johnny Castles, though I 
must say, I funked dreadfully. Like the frogs in the fable, 
though death to us, it was sport to the French, who kept 
roaring with laughter as we bolted by. 

Castles, after this affair, could never be induced to 
drink or hold any acquaintance with the enemy. 

Having remained some four or five months at Arcan- 
gues, on the 21st of February, 1814, the army broke up 
their cantonments, and marched for Toulouse. Our 
battalion, standing in need of new clothing, did not march 
with the division, but were ordered into St. Jean de Luz, 
where we received them. In the course of some time 
afterwards we rejoined our division. This was after the 
battle of Orthes had been fought, and which our battalion 
felt much chagrined in not being present at. 

On the 18th of March a circumstance occurred at 
Piaisance, near the town of Tarbes, which I cannot help 
noticing. A French peasant was shot, under circum- 
stances that fixed the crime upon some of the men of our 
company. Although the greatest endeavours were made to 
discover the culprit, and the company punished to make 
them give him up, still it was without avail. The facts of 
the case were these. Blanco, the Spaniard, accompanied 
by one or two of our men, went out this evening in search 

n 2 



180 ADVENTURES OF 

of wine. They entered the house of a peasant who, 
resisting the intrusion, struck Blanco, for which the 
Spaniard instantly shot him on the spot. A very hand- 
some collection was made for the widow and children of 
the poor peasant, for whose distress a very sincere sym- 
pathy was entertained by our battalion. Three months 
afterwards I was told that Blanco was the perpetrator of 
this cruel deed. 

The morning we left Plaisance we had a long and dreary 
march over a range of hills, until we came to the village of 
Tarbes, a short distance beyond which we observed the 
enemy in possession of a hill both sides of the road to 
Toulouse. We were immediately ordered to commence an 
attack upon them. Passing on at the "double," some 
of our regiments of cavalry gave us an encouraging 
huzza as we passed up the road. The French had 
thrown up strong entrenchments, and were, to use a 
nautical phrase, " tier above tier." I never remember to 
have been so warmly engaged as on this occasion, except 
at Badajoz. The enemy were in great numbers, our 
attacking force few, being only our three battalions of 
Rifles which their bullets were fast thinning as we strug- 
gled up the hill : still, although under every disadvantage, 
the victors of so many hard fights were not to be repelled, 
and the French were obliged to retreat. I was very sorry 
this day for striking a poor Frenchman whom I came up 
with, as I discovered he was badly wounded ; but I made 
the amende honorable by a sup from my canteen, which he 
received with grace. 

"We saw but little of the enemy after this, until we came 
within sight of Toulouse, where they seemed determined 
on a resolute stand. We took up our cantonments on 
this side of the Garonne in the beginning of April. The 
aspect of the country here was very agreeable : it abounded 
in wine of a rather superior quality to what had hitherto 
been served out as our rations. Although the inhabitants, 
from Marshal Soult's orders, had been obliged to fly on 
our approach, yet, I am happy to say that our men were 
restrained from most of those excesses in the waste and 
destruction of property, that had taken place in Portugal 



A SOLDIER. 181 

and Spain. This was greatly occasioned by the very 
excellent general order of Lord Wellington, published 
throughout the army at that period, explaining to the 
troops that although we were at war with an usurper and 
his army, we were not with the inoffensive country-people, 
who were subjected by fear. 

About twelve o'clock on the night of the 9th of April 
we were ordered to fall in. We marched to the side of the 
Garonne, which we crossed by means of a pontoon bridge, 
and took up our station behind the walls of a chateau 
about a mile from the town. Having had scarcely any 
rest the preceding night, most of our men were buried in 
profound sleep, when we were suddenly roused by the 
most expressive words to the ear of a soldier — "Fall in." 
This was done in an instant, and we were ordered to 
advance in double time. 

As we proceeded, we heard a heavy firing as if from the 
left of the town, and soon after beheld a disorganized mass 
of Spanish soldiers flying towards us. At first some of 
our fellows took them for the French, and fired among 
them, by which some lives were lost. They were a part of 
the Spanish force who attempted to carry a French fort or 
redoubt, from which the enemy had sent them to the 
right-about faster than they had come. We continued to 
approach the town, which was protected by a long series 
of fortifications, and that appeared full of men. On our 
approaching, they opened a running fire from some field- 
works, but with little execution, as we were sheltered by 
some trees and walls of houses near the place where we 
halted. We had not remained in this quiescent state long, 
when the thunder of the conflict was heard going on in 
full roar on our left : the salvos of artillery, with the 
constant cracking of musketry and the rushing sound of 
shells, together with the occasional wild " hurra," formed 
a very pretty concert. The scene was still more electri- 
fying when we found it to be the sixth division engaged in 
storming batteries, which the Spaniards had just run from ; 
they at length carried them, after a hard tug, in glorious 
style ; General Picton's division was also conspicuously 
engaged on our right, close to the river. The general 



182 ADVENTURES OF 

attack was crowned with the Duke of Wellington's usual 
success : the enemy retreating over the bridges of the 
canal of Languedoc into the town of Toulouse,, while we 
took possession of their outworks. 

The French army on the second day evacuated Toulouse, 
as the town was completely commanded by the batteries 
we had taken. Our battalion was ordered to take pos- 
session of part of the suburbs, near the canal. Although 
there was a strict order that no man should be allowed to 
go into the town, my curiosity induced me to take iC French 
leave" to see a place I had heard so much of; so I 
managed to elude the vigilance of the sentry. I found 
almost all the shops open, and business going on apparently 
as if nothing had taken place. Hearing that the theatre 
was open, I was induced to pay it a visit : it was very 
crowded. One box I perceived very magnificently fitted 
up, and surmounted by laurel, and while I was wondering 
for whose occupation it was intended, my curiosity was at 
once allayed by the arrival of the Duke and his staff, who 
were received with loud acclamations. " God save the 
King 3 ' was played, and all appeared to testify the greatest 
pleasure on the occasion but myself. I, indeed, I must 
fairly confess, feared that my insignificance would not 
conceal me from the glance of the chief or some of his 
staff, although wedged into the centre of a dense crowd 
in the pit. My dark dress, however, effectually screened 
me. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 

We continue to pursue the enemy on their retreat — Halted on the second day — 
A carriage brings Soult and peace—French troops disbanded— Friendly inter- 
course with our men — Castle Sarazin — Our men prefer the ground for a bed, 
in preference to a feather one — The French sergeant — The invitation — Parade 
— The dinner — Farewell to the Spaniards and Portuguese— Cupid enlisting 
deserters — Poor Blanco — Embarkation for England — The c Ville de Paris' — The 
sergeant in hope of a wife — Arrival at Portsmouth— The sergeant in search of 
a wife — Their meeting and parting. 

A few days after we had to execute our old manoeuvre 
of allowing the French no time to rest, as we were put in 
motion after them. On the second day as we halted on 



A SOLDIER. 183 

the Paris road, our men reposing from the fatigue of the 
morning's march, we heard several loud huzzas in our 
front. This was followed by the appearance of a carriage 
and four horses, which contained a French officer, who we 
afterwards understood was Marshal Soult. The carriage 
was attended by a detachment of English and French 
cavalry ; the shouting arose from the tidings that were 
joyfully repeated, that peace was proclaimed, and that 
Bonaparte had retired to Elba. 

We were immediately on this intelligence ordered to the 
right-about, and marched back to Toulouse. Before we 
had proceeded many miles we were overtaken on the road 
by great numbers of French soldiers who had been dis- 
banded, or had disbanded themselves, and who now 
were about returning to their homes, tired enough, no 
doubt, like ourselves, of the war they had been engaged so 
long in carrying on. The good-feeling testified by many 
of these really fine-looking fellows to us was general, the 
Frenchmen in many instances sharing the fatigue in carry- 
ing our men's knapsacks, &c. 

" As for myself, upon my simple word, 
I'd rather see a score of friendly fellows shaking hands, 
Than all the world in arms." 

From Toulouse we marched, in a few days, to Castle 
Sarazin, situated on the right bank of the Garonne, 
between the previously-mentioned town and Bordeaux. 
Here we came in for most delightful quarters, being 
billeted in the houses, where we all had excellent beds. 
But it was highly amusing to see our rough, hardy fellows 
spurn this latter luxury — which one would have thought 
would have been most welcome — with contempt. From 
having almost constantly been exposed for the previous 
five or six years to have " the earth their rude bed, their 
canopy the sky," with generally a stone for a pillow, our 
men could obtain no sleep on beds of down ; and it was 
actually a fact, that they preferred wrapping a blanket 
round them and the hard floor, as a place of rest : so 
much for custom. 

At Castle Sarazin we used to be on our usual excellent 



184 ADVENTURES OF 

terms with the French quartered in the neighbourhood, 
and to while away the time had constant matches with 
them in running, jumping, and gymnastic exercises. I got 
acquainted here with a very smart fellow — a French 
sergeant belonging to the 43rd regiment. A friendship 
was cemented between us, naturally enough, by our both 
being free-masons. 

One day we were sitting in a wine-house, when the 
subject of fencing — a science at which the French prize 
themselves in excelling — was started. My friend, the 
sergeant, was observing he was a tolerable hand with the 
foil, when a short lump of a fellow, who proved to be the 
fencing-master of the town, overhearing him, immediately 
challenged him to a trial of skill. This the sergeant in an 
instant accepted, and the sport, at which he showed him- 
self a perfect adept, at the fencing-master's cost, was 
carried on with perfect good-humour, until a fierce dispute 
arose about a hit, when it was mutually agreed to de- 
termine the controversy with points. A pair of foils with 
sharpened points, kept for this particular service were 
immediately produced, while the by-standers instantly 
commenced betting upon the combatants with all the sang 
froid in the world. Both had taken off their coats and 
bared their right arms for the strife, when — I am sorry to 
disappoint the reader, who may expect an account of a 
duel — our guard, which some good-natured soul had 
privately summoned, came in and put an end to the affair, 
greatly to the chagrin of the sergeant, who swore he would 
have killed the professor on the spot. 

That same evening the sergeant, whose name, in the 
lapse of years, I have forgotten, went to our Colonel and 
obtained leave for me to visit him at Montauban, where 
his regiment, the 43rd, was quartered. He had invited a 
corporal, myself, and another, to a dinner given by the 
non-commissioned officers of his regiment. On the day 
appointed away we started, Gilbert, the corporal, and 
myself. I shall never forget it. It was a fine morning. 
After crossing the Garonne in open boats, for the bridge 
had been destroyed previous to the battle of Toulouse, we 
entered Montauban, and found the 43rd and two other 



A SOLDIER. 185 

regiments forming a brigade, drawn up on parade in the 
square of the town, and two splendid bands playing in 
front. 

As we went in search of our friend we had to pass 
down the front of two of the French regiments, which we 
did, saluting, soldier-like, their officers. The latter re- 
turned our salute in the manner for which they are so 
justly remarked, and made us feel not a little proud of 
their courtesy. Our uniforms were almost new, and fitted 
us well. My two comrades had the advantage of being 
tall, and exceedingly smart-looking fellows ; for myself, I 
was fat as a butt, and as strong as I looked. We moved 
along the line, until we fell in with the sergeant, who, 
starting out of the ranks, gave us a hearty welcome. We 
waited beside him while the band played some favourite 
airs, until the regiments were dismissed. But they had 
scarcely broken their ranks when their officers crowded 
around us, and severally shook us by the hand, giving us 
also sundry smacks on the shoulders, with " Bravos les 
Anglais, soyez les bien venus," &c. The sergeant escorted 
us immediately to his quarters. The dining-room was a 
splendid one, and fitted up beautifully. The tables 
groaned under every delicacy of the season, and we did 
not forget, even here, to do "justice" to the acknowledged 
" merits " of John Bull in all matters of this "nature." 

Much good feeling and conviviality followed ; and 
encomiums and compliments were passed on the English ; 
all went on very well until singing was introduced with the 
removal of the cloth. It had been agreed among the 
French that no song should be sung that reflected upon 
our country. Several famous songs, so far as we could 
understand, were introduced. Our sergeant gave us an 
excellent specimen ; and Gilbert and myself joined also in 
our own rough manner. But a French corporal, under 
the influence of wine, commenced a " Chanson de guerre," 
rather contre les Anglais, for which, with a very proper 
feeling, he was by general consent kicked down stairs. 
The guests, however, resumed their seats, and all went on 
as quietly as before ; here we remained enjoying ourselves 
till three the next morning, when we were accompanied to 



136 ADVENTURES OF 

the boats by a number of tbeir band, playing fC Patrick's 
Day," as they escorted us down to the river-side. 

The foregoing anecdote, trivial and uninteresting as it 
may seem, still serves to show, in a pleasing point of view, 
the hospitality and kind feelings of the French, who have 
always claimed our highest respect. 

In a few days we received an order to proceed to 
Bordeaux, to embark for England. The delightful emo- 
tions of pleasure this generally induced throughout our 
men, after all their hardships and sufferings, may be better 
imagined than described. The second day's march we 
stopped at a village, the name of which I forget, where we 
had to part from our allies, the Spanish and Portuguese. 
Much, and even deep feelings of regret, were particularly 
felt by the men of our battalion on parting from the 
Spaniards, who had been for so long a period incorporated 
in our ranks. They had been distinguished for their 
gallantry, and although sixteen had been drafted into our 
company, but five had survived to bid us farewell. Poor 
fellows, they had grown attached to the battalion, and ex- 
pressed much grief on leaving ! Even Blanco, the 
sanguinary Blanco, actually shed tears. Notwithstanding 
the wretched and ineffective state of the Spanish armies 
during the campaigns in the Peninsula, I am convinced, 
and have indeed become more so from subsequent ex- 
perience, that there is right stuff in the men to make 
excellent soldiers, far superior to the Portuguese. 

Many men of our regiment, bound by the charms of 
the Signorettas, who had followed their fortunes throughout 
the war, took this opportunity to desert their country's 
cause, to take up that of their Dulcineas. Among others 
were two of my own company, who, not contented with the 
"arms" offered by these "invincibles" took rifles and 
all with them, and we never saw or heard of them after. 

We embarked in high spirits at Bordeaux, for Ports- 
mouth, on board the c Ville de Paris,' Captain Jones, com- 
mander. She was a splendid ship, and astonished us all 
with the size and regularity of her crew. The sailors, 
who seldom like a red coat, went hand in hand with us 
green jackets, and were a jolly set of fellows. 



A SOLDIER, 187 

We had in our regiment, at this time, now on hoard 
with us, and on his way to England, a sergeant of the 

name of S n, (which must be a sufficient explanation 

to the reader, as he is, I understand, now Irving, and in 
London), a fine, smart-looking fellow, about six feet in 
height. He had been with us during the whole of the 
Peninsular campaign, and was one of those who, after the 
battle of Corunna, had remained in Spain. He was now 
on his passage homeward to his wife, to whom he had 
been married for ten or eleven years, and whom, some 
months after the wedding, he was obliged to leave with 
her friends at Portsmouth to rejoin his regiment, then going 
abroad ; by some unaccountable circumstances, incidental 
to long campaigns, he never had received any tidings of or 
from her ; and he consequently was now very uncertain 
as to where he should find her, or whether she were living 
or dead. 

On the 22nd July, 1814, we anchored at Spithead, the 
sailors cheering us and manning the yards as we went 
ashore. As soon, however, as we landed at our destina- 
tion, he requested of me to assist him in his search. After 
tramping up and down and around Portsmouth, in vain, 
we at last made a stand in High Street — indeed he was 
growing almost desperate with disappointment — and here 
he made random inquiries of every person he met. This 
eventually drew a crowd of women of all ages about him 
but not one could answer his inquiry. He was on the 
point of giving it up altogether, when an old woman on 
crutches, from the rear of the crowd, casting a very 
shrewd keen look at him, asked him to repeat the name, 

" Mary S n," shouted my friend. " Ah !" exclaimed 

the hag, rather musingly, "if you will just inquire at 
No. — , near the Post-office, at the back of the street, you 
will, I think, find the party you require," casting up her 
eye as she finished her directions. Away we hurried, 
some five or six women straggling after us, and in a few 
minutes found ourselves at the door of a small neat-built 
cottage. After knocking — every moment seemed an hour 
to my poor friend, until the door was opened — a pretty- 



188 ADVENTURES OF 

looking little girl, of about ten years of age, inquired his 
errand. 

" Does Mrs. S n," asked the sergeant, and paused 

to look at the child, "does^Mary S n live here?" 

"Yes," said the little girl, starting with surprise, "that's 
my name." 

" Right," exclaimed the sergeant, clasping the astonished 
little one in his arms, and dashing into a side room well 
sprinkled with children. "Where, where' s your mother ?" 
The words were scarcely uttered, than a shrill shriek was 
heard from the inner apartment, and at the same moment 
the mother rushed before us, and gazing on him fell in- 
stantly into a fit of hysterics. My poor friend looked 
perplexed ; his features alternately changing from doubts 
to fears, with uncertain satisfaction. The little one was in 
an instant out of the house, and returned in a short time, 
leading in a square, well-made, good-looking man, in ap- 
pearance a carpenter. 

The facts were stubbornly plain to every one. The 
children, the comfortable, respectable air of the place, 
were too plain ; and the two husbands now stood within 
range of each other, with nostrils dilated in agony, and 
hands clenched, awaiting an expected onset. I think I 
never saw two better models of manhood in its prime, 
wrought up to melancholy and indescribable excitement. 
The two men, as it were, dug their eyes into each other, 
and then on the shrieking woman, who in recovering a 
little clung, as if for refuge, to the carpenter. 

My poor comrade, hitherto on the rack of suspense, 
now suddenly drew breath, and taking a skipping-rope 
which his daughter held in her hand, threw it lightly over 
his wife's neck. "Now," said he, in a somewhat col- 
lected tone, " Now, Mr. Carpenter, as it appears that 
Mary, who was my wife, has decided on her choice, sup- 
pose we have a bargain on the matter ? It's no use our 
skirmishing about in this manner any longer ; (and I have 
no doubt of your abilities,") pointing to the children, who 
crowded round the parents and opposite the sergeant. 
" With Mary's consent, as she seems to prefer your manner 



A SOLDIER. 189 

of doing business, suppose you clinch the bargain with a 
sixpence, and take her to you altogether ?" The money 
was handed out in a moment, and as quickly passed be- 
tween the sergeant's teeth, while he employed both hands 
to withdraw his sash aside, and taking from his pocket a 
guinea, which throwing into his only daughter's lap, left 
the scene, closed the door, and hurried into a small public - 
house across the street. 

" Come, landlord, a pot of your sixpenny," throwing 
down the ill-fated bit of silver, u and take that for your 
settlement ; and Ned," said he, turning to me, "call for 
your likings." He grasped the vessel as the landlord 
handed it, and swallowed the whole at a draught, like a 
man who had thirsted for a week ; smacked his lips, in 
conclusion of the barter, cast two or three glances up and 
down his person, then rubbing his hands smartly together, 
strutted up the street as if nothing whatever had annoyed 
him. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Quartered in Dover — Receive our new clothing, &c. — May, 1315 — Receive orders 
to embark for Ostend — We arrive safe — Bruges — Ghent — Brussels — 15th of 
June — Belong to the fifth division under General Picton — Descend the wood of 
Soignies to Waterloo — Duke of Wellington arrives from Brussels — Battle of 
Waterloo — I receive a wound in my right hand, shatters one of my fingers — 
Return to Brussels — The pretty house-keeper — The child — Its dead mother — 
Genappe — Scenes on the road to Brussels — Arrival at Brussels — Numbers of 
wounded in the streets— Kindness and attention of the Brussels' ladies — The 
fair surgeon. 

Safely returned to England, and quartered in Dover 
barracks, our men soon forgot the fatigues of the Peninsu- 
lar campaigns ; and being joined by a batch of recruits, 
and supplied with new clothing, the old soldiers once more 
panted for fresh exploits ; for their souls were strong 
for war, and peace became irksome to them — nor were 
they long disappointed. In the beginning of May, 1815, 
we received orders to embark at Dover for Ostend, where 
we arrived safe ; from thence we proceeded through 
Bruges to Ghent in open boats by the canal : here we 



190 ADVENTURES OF 

halted a few days, and then marched to Brussels, where 
we remained several weeks, not even dreaming an enemy 
was near us. 

On the 15th of June, as I retired to bed, at the hour of 
eleven o'clock at night, I heard bugles sounding and drums 
beating through different parts of the city. Equipping 
myself as quickly as possible, and entering the market- 
place, I found the whole of our division assembling. I 
then belonged to the fifth division, under the command of 
General Sir Thomas Picton. Being orderly non-com- 
missioned officer of the company at the time, I received 
orders to draw three days' rations for the men, the chief 
part of this was left behind, as none but old soldiers knew 
its value, or felt inclined to take part with them ; some of 
the men, however, cursed their hard fate for not taking 
away a portion. All things arranged, we passed the gates 
of Brussels, and descended the wood of Soignies, that leads 
to the little village of Waterloo. It was the 16th — a 
beautiful summer morning — the sun slowly rising above 
the horizon and peeping through the trees, while our men 
were as merry as crickets, laughing and joking with each 
other, and at times pondered in their minds what all this 
fuss, as they called it, could be about ; for even the old 
soldiers could not believe the enemy were so near. We 
halted at the verge of the wood, on the left of the road, 
behind the village of Waterloo, where we remained for 
some hours ; the recruits lay down to sleep, while the old 
soldiers commenced cooking. I could not help noticing 
while we remained here, the birds in full chorus, straining 
their little throats as if to arouse the spirits of the men to 
fresh vigour for the bloody conflict they were about to 
engage in. Alas ! how many of our brave companions, ere 
that sun set, were no more ! About nine o'clock, the .Duke 
of Wellington with his staff, came riding from Brussels 
and passed us to the front ; shortly afterwards, orders 
were given to the Rifles to fall in and form the advanced- 
guard of our division, and follow. We moved on through 
the village of Waterloo, and had not proceeded far, when, 
for the first time, we heard distant cannon ; it was, I be- 
lieve, the Prussians engaged on our extreme left. 



A SOLDIER, 191 

About three o'clock in the afternoon we arrived at four 
roads ; at this time there was a smart firing going on in 
our front ; this,, I believe, was caused by some Belgians 
playing at long shot with the enemy. Here I again saw 
the Duke of Wellington looking through his glass, as we 
halted a few moments ; this was at Quatre Bras, and im- 
mediate orders were given by one of the Duke's staff to 
occupy a clump of trees a little on our left ; our company 
were ordered to take possession of it. While performing 
this task I could see the enemy emerging from a wood 
about a mile on our right, which was rather on a hill, with 
a clear plain between us. We had scarcely taken pos- 
session of the wood, when, for the first time, I beheld a 
French cuirassier or vidette. He was in an instant fired 
at by our men and his horse shot under him ; he dis- 
engaged himself from the stirrups as the horse was failing, 
waving his sword over his head to put us at defiance, but 
he was immediately dropped by another rifle-shot. I 
think I can venture to assert that our company was the 
first of the British army who pulled a trigger at this cele- 
brated battle. 

The enemy's light troops, I could soon perceive, in ex- 
tended order, and in great force coming down to oppose us. 
This caused a corresponding movement on our part, and 
we were ordered to take ground to our left, passing close 
to a pond of water, the main road separating us from the 
enemy. While executing this the French commenced a 
very brisk fire on us, until we gained possession of a few 
houses on the main road on a rising ground, which two 
companies of our Rifles instantly occupied. The remainder 
of our division was now enveloped in one blaze of fire on 
the plain before mentioned. But we remained very quietly 
where we were, until the French bringing up some artillery, 
began riddling the house with round-shot. Feeling rather 
thirsty, I had asked a young woman in the place for a 
little water, which she was handing to me, when a ball 
passed through the building, knocking the dust about our 
ears : strange to say, the girl appeared less alarmed than 
myself. 

Fearing that we might be surrounded, we were at length 



192 ADVENTURES OF 

obliged to leave the building, in doing which we were 
fiercely attacked by a number of French voltigeurs, who 
forced us to extend along a lane, from whence we as smartly 
retaliated, and a galling fire was kept up for some time on 
both sides. 

It is remarkable that recruits in action are generally 
more unfortunate than the old soldiers. We had many 
fine fellows, who joined us on the eve of our leaving 
England, who were killed here. The reason of this is, that 
an old rifleman will seek shelter, if there be any near his 
post, while the inexperienced recruit appears as if petrified 
to the spot by the whizzing balls, and unnecessarily ex- 
poses himself to the enemy's fire. 

Being hard pressed by superior numbers, we were at 
length joined by a number of Belgians, and received orders 
to advance, which we did, driving the enemy through the 
skirts of a wood, and passing a field of rye, which ob- 
structed them from our view. As soon, however, as we 
emerged from the wood, a regiment of French infantry on 
our right received us with a running fire. I was in the act 
of taking aim at some of our opposing skirmishers, when a 
ball struck my trigger finger, tearing it off, and turning 
the trigger aside ; while a second shot passed through the 
mess-tin on my knapsack. Several of our men were killed 
by this volley, and Lieutenant Gardiner, a worthy little 
officer of the company, was severely wounded in the lower 
part of the leg. We wounded men made the best of our 
way to the rear ; and on my return to the house at the 
corner of the lane, I found the pretty Belgian still in pos- 
session, looking out of the window, and seemingly quite 
unconcerned, although a dozen shots had perforated the 
house : all our entreaties for her to leave were in vain, as 
her father, she said, had desired her to take care of the 
place until he returned from Brussels. 

The dusk of the evening soon set in, myself and numbers 
of others disabled, took up our quarters for the night in 
another farm-house lower down, and some distance from 
the main road. 

The house became soon thronged with the wounded of 
our division, who were momentarily brought in, until the 



A SOLDIER. 193 

out-houses, courtlages, &c., were literally crammed. All 
the straw and hay that could be obtained was procured, of 
which, fortunately, there was plenty, and strewed every- 
where to lay the men on. To sleep was impossible with 
the anguish of my shattered hand and the groans of my 
fellow-sufferers. The dawn came on before we were aware of 
it, and ere it was light, our advanced sentries were again 
in continual skirmish along the whole line ; indeed, the 
balls kept patting through the doors and windows as we 
lay there. Such as were able to walk soon started for 
Brussels ; but several of the severely wounded were 
obliged to be left behind for want of conveyances. 

We had not proceeded far towards the main road along 
a pathway partially protected by a hedge from the enemy's 
fire, when one of my companions heard the cries of a child 
on the other side ; on looking over he espied a fine boy, 
about two or three years of age, by the side of its dead 
mother, who was still bleeding copiously from a wound in 
the head, occasioned, most likely, by a random shot from 
the enemy. We carried the motherless, and perhaps, 
orphan child, by turns, to Genappe, where we found a 
number of women of our division, one of whom recognised 
the little fellow, I think she said, as belonging to a soldier 
of the First Royals. 

Genappe, also, was literally crowded with the wounded, 
who were conveyed with every possible dispatch to 
Brussels. Feeling most anxious to know the fate of our 
regiment, I stood on a hedgerow, on the skirts of the 
village, when I descried the division retreating towards us, 
the rain at the time coming down in torrents. I remained 
until some of the regiments entered the village, together 
with many of our wounded, who gave me information that 
our regiment, with the cavalry, formed the rear-guard. I 
now retraced my steps the same road I had advanced, and 
once more arrived at the little village of Waterloo, which 
many of our men never saw again, as our battalion lost 
more on the 16th than on the 18th of June. Here I 
stopped for the night. The cries of the wounded on their 
way, in cart-loads, to Brussels, were most distressing, and 

o 



194 ADVENTURES OF 

many carts broke down through being overloaded, and 
through their haste to get forward. 

It is curious to observe the confusion and uproar that 
generally exists in the rear of an army in battle, while all in 
front is order and regularity. Many people imagine the 
reverse. This, however, is generally to be imputed to the 
soldiers' wives and camp followers of all descriptions, who 
crowd in great numbers, making inquiries after their hus- 
bands, friends, &c, for whom they generally are prepared 
with liquors, and other refreshments. I had no such ties, 
save my comrades, who now were too busily occupied 
watching their enemies, and with their own personal consi- 
derations, to have either time or opportunity to inquire 
after mine. The crowds of carts, horses, &c, which thickly 
thronged the roadway, were greeted on all sides by anxious 
faces and earnest inquiries. But now and then as one of 
the vehicles hurried along, a burst of laughter hailed it, 
and indeed, it seemed to bear a load of a more enlivening 
nature than that which characterized the others. My 
sound legs, for my arm only was wounded, and hung sus- 
pended in a sling, enabled me to approach the cart, and 
scrutinise its contents. My surprise was soon dissipated, 
and wounds almost forgotten, in the merry features of my 
old friend, Josh Hetherington, who, having received a flesh 
wound in the leg, was now being borne to the hospital with 
other fellow- sufferers. 

Josh, like myself, had no ties — no one to bring him 
brandy, &c. ; but wider awake, and better acquainted with 
the world, in the bustle of a dark night, he had laid him-; 
self at his length on the inside of a cart, and there awaited 
the current of fortune. 

One or two women in search of their husbands he parti- 
cularly knew, and knowing also their spouses, he replied to 
their inquiries in as exact an imitation of their voices, as 
one could reasonably give a man credit for. The result 
was, that the bottle was instantly handed into his hiding- 
place, Josh took sundry deep gulps, while the duped 
woman continued anxiously walking by the side of the 
wheels, wishing to heaven that the daylight, or some other 



A SOLDIER. 195 

light, would enable her to enjoy the sight of her better half. 
The denouement of the cheat came with the return of the 
empty flask, and a sincere hope from Josh that her husband 
would find enough liquor left — and not be wounded at all 
—at all. 

The disappointment and rage of the woman only gave 
rise to a burst of merriment, in which the wounded men 
joined heartily, and the circumstance travelled forward, 
among her companions, and accompanied the cart the 
whole of the way to Brussels. 

The next morning I proceeded slowly onward, for my 
wound, as yet, had not been dressed. I could not help 
remarking on my way through the woods, droves of Bel- 
gians, and even English, with fires lighted, busily cooking, 
having left their comrades in contest with the enemy, and 
apparently nothing the matter with them. 

On my arrival at Brussels, and going to my quarters, I 
found it so crowded with Belgian officers and men (some 
of them quite free from wounds), that I could get no 
reception. It was about six o'clock in the evening of the 
18th. I was entering the large square, and gazing on some 
hundreds of wounded men who were there stretched out on 
straw, when an alarm was given that the French were 
entering the city ; in a moment all was in an uproar ; the 
inhabitants running in all directions, closing their doors, 
and some Belgian troops in the square, in great confusion ; 
loading my rifle, I joined a party of the 81 st regiment who 
remained on duty here during the action. The alarm, 
lowever, was occasioned by the appearance of about 1700 
)V 1800 French prisoners, under escort of some of our 
lragoons. 

The panic over, I partook of a little bread and wine, and 
lay down for the night on some straw in the square ; and 
in spite of the confusion and uproar, occasioned by the 
continual arrival of waggons loaded with wounded men, I 
slept soundly. In the morning the scene surpassed all 
imagination, and baffles description : thousands of wounded 
French, Belgians, Prussians and English ; carts, waggons, 
and every other attainable vehicle, were continually arriving 
heaped with sufferers. The wounded were laid, friends 

o 2 



196 ADVENTURES OF 

and foes indiscriminately, on straw, with avenues between 
them, in every part of the city, and nearly destitute of 
surgical attendance. The humane and indefatigable exer- 
tions of the fair ladies of Brussels, however, greatly made 
up for this deficiency ; numbers were busily employed — 
some strapping and bandaging wounds, others serving out 
tea, coffee, soups, and other soothing nourishments ; while 
many occupied themselves stripping the sufferers of their 
gory and saturated garments, and dressing them in clean 
shirts, and other habiliments ; indeed, altogether careless of 
fashionable scruples, many of the fairest and wealthiest of 
the ladies of that city, now ventured to assert their pre- 
eminence on the occasion. It was enough that their 
ordained companions were in need, to call forth the sympa- 
thies that ever must bind the sexes to mutual dependance. 
One lady I noticed particularly, she was attended by a 
servant bearing on his shoulder a kind of pannier, containing 
warm and cold refreshments : her age I guessed about 
eighteen, and the peculiarity of the moment made her 
appear beyond the common order of humanity. She moved 
along with an eye of lightning, glancing about for those 
whom she thought most in need of her assistance. A tall 
Highlander lay near her as she hurried along, and drew 
her attention with a deep groan, arising from the anguish 
of a severe wound in the thick part of the thigh. The sol- 
dier fixed his eye with surprise on her, as in a twinkling she 
knelt at his side, and gently moving aside his blood-stained 
kilt, commenced washing the wounded part ; the Scotch- 
man seemed uneasy at her importunity. But with the 
sweetest voice imaginable, she addressed him in English, 
with, " Me no ashamed of you — indeed, I will not hurt 
you !" and the wounded man, ere he could recover his 
rough serenity, found his wound bandaged, and at ease, 
under the operations of his fair attendant. Such acts as 
these must ever draw forth our admiration. 



A SOLDIER. 197 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Brussels' hospitals — The British and French soldiers under amputation — I lose 
my finger— Another loss also— I leave the hospital and am removed to the 
Provost Guard— The Belgian marauders bared to the skin — The point of 
honour — Sensation produced on their comrades — The Belgian regiment under 
arms — Guard-house surrounded— Narrow escape — Removal of the Belgians — 
Assassination of a French Count by a Cossack officer— Medals sent from 
England— Consequent dissensions — Poor Wheatley — Quarters at Mouvres — 
Augustine — An old acquaintance — A rival — Augustine leaves her father's house 
— Pursued— Her father's despair — Removal to Cambray — The regiment receives 
orders to embark for England — We part. 

I remained in Brussels three days, and had ample 
means here, as in several other places, snch as Sala- 
manca, &c, for witnessing the cutting off legs and arms. 
The French I have ever found to be brave, yet I cannot 
say they will undergo a surgical operation with the cool, 
unflinching spirit of a British soldier. An incident which 
here came under my notice, may in some measure show 
the difference of the two nations. An English soldier 
belonging to, if I recollect rightly, the 1st Royal Dra- 
goons, evidently an old weather-beaten warfarer, while 
undergoing the amputation of an arm below the elbow, 
held the injured limb with his other hand without betray- 
ing the slightest emotion, save occasionally helping out his 
pain by spirting forth the proceeds of a large plug of 
tobacco, which he chewed most unmercifully while under 
the operation. Near to him was a Frenchman, bellowing 
lustily, while a surgeon was probing for a ball near the 
shoulder. This seemed to annoy the Englishman more 
than anything else, and so much so, that as soon as his 
arm was amputated, he struck the Frenchman a smart blow 
across the breech with the severed limb, holding it at the 
wrist, saying, " Here, take that, and stuff it down your 
throat, and stop your damned bellowing !" 

The accommodation at Brussels not being sufficient for 
the wounded, it was found expedient to have many of them 
conveyed to Antwerp, myself among the rest ; and the 
entire of the 81st regiment were employed conveying the 
men on stretchers to the boat on the canal, communicating 



198 ADVENTURES OF 

between the two cities ; there I had my wound attended 
to, and my shattered finger taken off at the socket. A 
singular case of loss of limb here fell under my notice : 
a young fellow, a German, one of the drivers to the German 
artillery, had lost both his legs by a round-shot, which 
passing through the horse's belly, had carried away both 
limbs ; while on the ground in this mangled state, he 
received a dreadful gash in one of his arms, from a French 
cuirassier, and a ball in the other ; through these he was 
also obliged to undergo the amputation of both arms, one 
below r the elbow and. the other above ; here the unfor- 
tunate youth (for he was not more than nineteen), lay a 
branchless trunk, and up to the moment I left, though 
numbers died from lesser wounds, survived. At first the 
latter were so numerous that it became a matter of sur- 
prise to even the doctors, who at length discovered that 
the water, which the patients were in the habit of v/ashing 
their wounds with, was brought from a spa, which in some 
instances, had the effect of poisoning the flesh.* In the 
course of a few weeks, however, I was sufficiently recovered 
to rejoin my regiment, at Clichy camp, near Paris. 

Shortly after my arrival I was ordered on the Provost 
Guard, which my readers will better understand, is a kind 
of military police. We were under the command of the 
Provost Marshal, named Stanway, whose instructions were 
to take all whom he found marauding about the gardens 
in the neighbourhood of Paris, and to march them down 
to his guard-house for punishment. 

The Provost was a keen fellow, and sometimes would 
pounce on as many as eighteen or twenty in the course of 
a morning ; these were immediately flogged, according to 
the amount of their offence, or the resistance they made, 
and instantly liberated. 

The depredations, however, became so universal, that 
the inhabitants of Paris complained to the generals of 
divisions, and we, in consequence, received orders to 
keep a stricter look out, and take into custody and flog 

* This being only a report amongst us wounded men, little reliance can be 
placed on it. 



A SOLDIER. 193 

every man we caught in the act of plunder. Our guard- 
house consequently was daily filled by soldiers of every 
uniform, indeed, ours may be said to have been a true 
Owenite Guard, for we made no objection to " sect, 
country, class, or colour," as we served them all " alike." 

We had a deal of trouble with the Belgians especially. 
These fellows would go forth in sections, and lay every- 
thing waste before them. This was not for want, as they 
were well supplied with regular rations daily from Paris, 
which we were aware of. As soon as they perceived the 
guard hemming them in on all sides, they would invariably 
salute us with brickbats, stones, and sometimes even make 
a regular attack, But Stanway seldom let any escape 
him. 

One morning we brought in sixteen of them, and the 
Provost, as usual, marched them into the little yard where 
the punishments were generally inflicted. The triangles 
stared them in the face from the centre of the ground, 
and the culprits one and all, as soon as they rolled their 
eyes on it, gave a bellow of horror, fell on their knees, and 
commenced praying and crossing themselves, and other 
symptoms of repentance ; but Stanway was inexorable. 
Our men had the greatest difficulty in unbreeching them, 
and getting them tied to the halberts. The first stripped, 
I recollect was a short, stumpy, fat, desperate-looking 
fellow, who by the circumference of his seat of honour, and 
his struggles for its safety, seemed to bear about it all the 
honour of his native Belgium. The first whistle of the 
cat, even before it i eached hirn, appeared to have verified 
the assumption, for he roared to such a degree, and his 
fellow-culprits sympathised so loudly, f.nd with such a 
crash of Belgic, that it set the whole vicinity by the ears, 
and actually aroused their whole regiment quartered in the 
village, and the place became in an uproar. The Belgians 
flew to arms and instantly surrounded the guard-house ; 
Stanway nevertheless was determined not to relax his duty, 
and ordered every man of us to load, and placed us in 
different parts of the building, barricading the doorways, 
prepared for ev- y resistance, and ciuving intervals conti- 
nued the flagelJ^ion. The assailants meanwhile became 



200 ADVENTURES OF 

furious, and attempted to scale the walls for a rescue, but 
they were kept off by the guard with fixed bayonets, until 
a shower of brickbats, &c, being thrown over the walls, 
made us gladly retire into the building. Our lives were now 
in jeopardy ; not a man of us dared to stir out, until a 
signal being given to some English soldiers who were 
passing, these gave the alarm to the division then en- 
camped outside the village, and our Rifles, followed by 
the 52nd, came instantly to our assistance. 

The two regiments remained under arms the whole 
night, and the Belgians, out of bravado, retired to a field, 
a little distance from them, and kept under arms also. 
The morning after the occurrence they were removed from 
Clichy, and we saw no more of them. 

Going into Paris a day or two after this disturbance to 
draw rations for the guard, I had to pass the Barriere de 
Clichy, and before entering the gates I perceived a crowd 
collected round a doorway in the street adjoining. Na- 
turally anxious to know the cause, I mingled with the 
throng, and pushing to the centre perceived the dead body 
of a French gentleman stretched out on some straw, 
literally saturated in blood, and on inquiry, I was informed 
that he had been slain by a Cossack or Prussian officer 
some few minutes before. The deceased (who was a 
French Count) and the Cossack, it appeared, had quarrelled 
the night previous, and had decided on settling the matter 
the next morning by a meeting with pistols. It had been 
agreed by the seconds that the two principals should be 
placed back to back, and each measuring six of his own 
paces, should, as the distance was completed, turn round 
and fire. 

As soon, however, as the Count commenced his first 
pace, the Cossack turned round discharged his pistol into 
the back of his adversary's head, and stretched him life- 
less on the ground, exclaiming as he did it, " I have been 
shot at enough by your cursed countrymen, now for my 
turn." 

The assassin and his second fearful, however, of the 
consequences fled distantly, and taking korse, rode off to 
their camp, but they were never discovered ; although I 



A SOLDIER. 201 

was told that the Duke, when the circumstances were 
related to him, offered a reward for their apprehension. 

The unfortunate Count had been an officer in the 
French service, and to all appearance was a very smart 
young fellow. 

In the beginning of February, 1816, we left Paris, and 
marched to the environs of Cambray ; shortly afterwards 
we were presented with medals sent out by the British 
government, in commemoration of that celebrated battle ; 
every man who was in the field on the 1 6th, 1 /th, and 
18 th of June, was distinguished with this honourable 
badge. I am sorry to say this caused many dissensions 
among the men, particularly some of the old veterans of 
the Peninsular campaigns. One named Wheatley, as 
brave a man as any in the service, was unfortunately in 
hospital at Brussels during the action, and was not 
honoured with this mark of bravery ; whenever he met 
with badges on what he termed recruits, he would 
instantly tear them off, and frequently throw them away. 
For this too often repeated offence, poor Wheatley was 
tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to three months' 
solitary confinement. He was sent to Valenciennes, where 
the 43rd regiment lay, who formerly belonged to our light 
division during the Spanish war. The men of that 
regiment who knew Wheatley, as well as the offence he 
had committed, not only fed him well during his imprison- 
ment, but at the expiration of his confinement sent him 
back in all the pomp a hero could wish. He was conveyed 
in a carriage drawn by four horses, Wheatley' s head as 
well as those of the postilion and horses, were decorated 
with blue ribands. On seeing the gay equipage enter the 
village, we were much surprised, but more so on seeing 
Wheatley jump from the carriage amidst the loud accla- 
mations of his old companions. Poor Wheatley felt 
neglected on receiving no medal, and became, from one of 
the bravest, one of the most dissipated men in the regi- 
ment ; he was shortly afterwards discharged. 

My own company was quartered at Mouvres, a pretty 
little village off the main road that leads to Douay, myself 
and three privates being billeted on the house of a rich 



202 ADVENTURES OF 

old fellow named Bernard Loude ; he was the richest man 
In the village possessing upwards of three hundred acres 
of land, his own property, with stables, granary, waggons, 
and cattle, indeed everything that constitutes a farmer's 
stock. The house, like all others in that part of the 
country, was built long, with only a ground floor. On 
entering it, I observed three pretty girls spinning ; the 
youngest, about sixteen years of age, was named Leucade ; 
the next, about nineteen, named Augustine ; and the eldest, 
who was not above twenty-four years of age, was named 
Julie ; they were all attractive in appearance. 

After living there some weeks, I looked upon myself as 
one of the household; and, soldier-like, began toying 
with the girls : the one who attracted my attention most 
was Augustine ; she was a fine young woman, with light 
hair and fair complexion. Her manners were playful, yet 
gentle, and there was an air of innocence in her freedom, 
which showed her thoughts were untainted by that know- 
ledge of the world, which restrains the levity of youth. 
Her disposition corresponded with her manners, frank, 
generous, and confiding ; her sisters used to say she was of 
a most forgiving temper, yet of a firm and determined 
spirit, and they loved her with more than the love sisters 
generally bestow upon each other. I now> day after day, 
became more intimate with the family, and the fair Augus- 
tine, whether serious or jesting, was always my favourite. 
The courtship of a soldier may be somewhat rough ; I 
used to steal a kiss now and then, which my pretty 
Augustine would check me for doing ; yet so much 
goodness was there in her manner, that her reproof, rather 
than otherwise, tempted a repetition of the offence. To 
those who know the inconveniences to which soldiers are 
subjected in being billeted, it must appear I was now in 
clover ; I certainly never shall forget the happy hours I 
then enjoyed. 

One day, it was I remember on a Saturday, I was 
ordered on duty to the head-quarters of our regiment, at a 
small village called Burloun, about two miles from 
Mouvres. Previously to my departure, the youngest sister 
Leucade told me Augustine was soon to be married, being 



A SOLDIER. 203 

engaged to a young Frenchman who lived our side of 
Cambray, and bad formerly been a prisoner in England, 
jokingly adding, tbat be could speak a little English. 
It was customary for me to dine with the family every 
Sunday ; and on my return off guard next day, as usual, 
I joined the domestic party. I noticed a stranger at table, 
who by his manner appeared the favoured suitor of 
Augustine. We had, however, scarcely been seated, when 
he gazed intently upon me, and suddenly starting up, 
seized me by the hand, and nearly bursting into tears, 
exclaimed, " Mon brave soldat, est-ce vous?" I imme- 
diately recognized in him the faithful Frenchman whose 
life I had spared in the streets of Badajoz before men- 
tioned. Returning to his seat, he described to the party 
the scenes we had gone through at Badajoz, which 
sometimes called forth fits of laughter, and sometimes 
tears. 

All eyes were fixed on me ; I particularly noticed Au- 
gustine ; she looked more serious than I had ever seen 
her ; she did not shed a tear or yet smile during the whole 
narrative of her young French lover ; but I could plainly 
perceive by the heaving of her bosom, she was more 
deeply affected than the rest. He extolled me to the 
skies, but he knew not the interest he was exciting in 
favour of an unknown rival. The French I have observed 
to be a people fond of glory and sentiment, and a story of 
la Gloire et 1' Amour will always excite their admiration. 
He then related to me the cruelty he had received from 
the Portuguese soldiers who conducted him with the re- 
mainder of the garrison of Badajoz on their march to 
Lisbon, where he was put on board a ship and conveyed 
to England. After Bonaparte had been conducted to 
Elba, he with some thousand other prisoners, returned to 
his native home. He took no part, he said, in the battle 
of Waterloo. After dinner I and my old companion 
parted, having both enjoyed mutual good cheer. The 
attention of Augustine after this accidental interview was 
redoubled, and what I before suspected I now plainly dis- 
covered, I had won her heart. From this time, we were 
more frequently alone ; and although her father wished 
her married to the Frenchman, he being a relation as well 



204 ADVENTURES OF 

as in good circumstances, she had never herself been 
seriously attached to him. The affection that subsisted 
between us became no secret in the family, and it was 
rumoured even about the village ; at length it burst out in 
songs composed by the ' f Troubadours" of the neighbour- 
hood. Her father thought it prudent to get my quarters 
changed : he accordingly applied to the Colonel, and I 
was sent to another hamlet in charge of tailors making 
clothing for the regiment ; it was at a pretty neat little 
village called Saint les Marquion, on the main road to 
Cambray. At the house of an old widow who lived at 
Mouvres I still corresponded with Augustine, and enjoyed 
many stolen interviews. At length, harassed with the 
remonstrances of her family, who insisted on diverting her 
affections from me, she determined on leaving her father's 
roof, and in the dusk one evening met me at the widow's, 
where we betrothed ourselves to each other. On hearing 
of her elopement, her father unrelentingly pursued her ; 
he went to Cambray and applied to the executor to deprive 
her of her patrimony, but the law prevented him doing so. 
He then appealed to the military authorities, and one 
morning, about ten o'clock, four gensdarmies, to my 
surprise, entered my quarters in search of her. I was 
about to give them a very rough reception, and some of 
my comrades, who were quartered with me, proposed 
giving them a threshing; but the corporal who com- 
manded the party warning me I should be held responsible 
for any ill-usage they might receive, then produced a 
written order for her return to her father's house, signed 
by General Sir John Lambert, who commanded our brigade, 
and countersigned by Colonel Balvaird, our head colonel, 
Sir Andrew Barnard being at the time Commandant of 
Cambray. 

I saw all remonstrance was vain, and there was no 
alternative ; so accompanying her myself, she was obliged 
with a heavy heart to retrace her steps. Her reception by 
her father was most unkind ; he confined her in a room, 
the windows of which were darkened and secured by cross- 
bars of iron, the handiwork of the village smith, whose 
services were called in requisition upon the occasion. In 
this gloomy prison she was not permitted to see her sisters ; 



A SOLDIER. 205 

her meals were sent her at long intervals, and scantily- 
supplied ; a priest was sent for, who was paid handsomely 
for trying to wean her affections from me ; but the bars of 
iron, and the prayers of the priest, were alike in vain. 
She contrived on the first opportunity to escape from this 
durance vile to me, as we had been clandestinely married 
at her first elopement by an excommunicated priest ; for I 
must here mention, the Duke of Wellington had given 
positive orders that no British soldiers should be allowed 
to marry French women. Immediately on her return we 
went together to our colonel, who lived at the chateau of 
the village, to request she might be allowed to remain 
with me. On entering the room, she threw herself in an 
impassioned manner on her knees, and begged we might 
not be separated. The Colonel, taking her by the hand, 
raised her from her humiliating posture, saying it was not 
in his power to grant the request, but he would speak to 
General Lambert on the matter, which he did, and she was 
allowed to remain with me. We now fancied ourselves in 
a great measure protected, but she was again pursued by 
her father, who one day very unceremoniously rushed into 
our cottage, and desired she would return with him. She 
instantly flew to me for protection, throwing her arms 
around me, exclaiming, <c Mon Edouard, je ne te quitterai 
jamais." Her father, as if seized with a sudden fit of 
phrenzy, laid hold of a hammer that was on the table, 
and struck himself a blow on the forehead with such force 
that he fell, and remained some time on the floor insensible, 
The distress of Poor Augustine cannot be imagined, for it 
was some time ere she recovered, but after this we remained 
unmolested, and lived happily together. 

About the latter end of June, 1818, we broke up our 
cantonments, and encamped on the glacis of Cambray, 
where we remained until the latter end of October, when 
we received orders to proceed to England, after remaining 
in its environs for the space of three years. The Colonel, 
who did not know we were married, sent for me, and 
informed me she must return to her parents, as she would 
certainly not be permitted to embark with me for England. 
We now consulted together as to what step would be most 



206 ADVENTURES OF 

advisable to adopt. It was agreed I should go to her 
uncle, who resided in Cambray, and request him to in- 
tercede with her father to allow her to receive part of her 
patrimony ; for, although he could not deprive her of it 
after his death, she was not entitled to receive it during 
his lifetime ; and, if he consented to do so, I promised to 
obtain my discharge from the army, and publicly marry 
her. Her uncle, after my interview with him, accompanied 
me to Mouvres (a distance of about three or four miles), 
with the intention of discussing the matter with the father ; 
but, on my entering the house, all was uproar ; a tumult 
of voices from all the family assailed me, during which one 
of the brothers cried, " Delie le chien ! Delie le chien !" 
Upon which a huge wolf-dog was unchained ; but, instead 
of attacking me, remembering that I had once lived in the 
house, he came and fawned on me. In the midst of this 
confusion I expected every moment would be my last, as 
there were no British soldiers nearer than Cambray. At" 
this instant Augustine entered. She had heard at her 
uncle's that I had gone with him to her father's, and, 
apprehensive of the consequences, had followed me. Not 
attending to any other person present, she entreated me to 
leave the house, and return to Cambray with her. I did 
so; and early next morning, the regiment being in march- 
ing order, I was reluctantly compelled to part from my 
almost broken-hearted faithful Augustine. It was agreed 
she should remain with the family of her uncle until I 
could communicate with her from England, where we 
hoped happier days awaited us. 



A SOLDIER. 207 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Disembark at Dover — Shorn Cliff Barracks — I am invalided, and pass the Board 
at Chelsea — Augustine's arrival — Sixpence a day — Sir Andrew Barnard — Sir 
David Dundas — My hopeless condition — Blood money — The Honourable 
Doctor Wellesley — Mr. Walsford— Augustine returns with me to France — I 
retrace my steps alone to Calais — To Dover — Dreadful extremes — A new field 
for practice — A friend in need — Another " Forlorn- Hope" — Colonel Ford — A 
Rifleman without an appetite — Death of Augustine. 

Disembarking at Dover, our regiment marched to 
Shorn Cliff Barracks, where we had not long been quar- 
tered when an order arrived from the Horse Guards for 
two sergeants and two corporals of each company of the 
Rifles to be discharged. Men who had been wounded were 
to be first, and old men next. I was accordingly, although 
only about thirty-one years of age, invalided by our doctor, 
on account of my wounds, and immediately departed for 
Chatham, to await an order from Chelsea to proceed to 
London, to pass the Board. Here, to my astonishment, 
one day Augustine presented herself before me. Her 
appearance almost electrified me. "Edouard — mon cher 
Edouard," she exclaimed, " je te suivrai partout." I then 
learned that, having arrived at Shorn Cliff Barracks, and 
inquired for me, Colonel Leach had kindly paid her pas- 
sage by coach to Chatham, directing her where to find 
me. Here she gave birth to a child. Shortly afterwards 
I received orders to appear before the Chelsea Board, and 
we proceeded to London, with others. On our arrival, our 
circumstances being very needy, we took a single room in 
Red Lion Street, Chelsea, where we resolved to live as 
sparingly as possible. I passed the Board, but soon found 
the pittance allowed me insufficient to maintain us, being 
only sixpence per day. I had yet hopes, however, that 
my case was not understood, and I therefore applied to 
my Colonel, Sir Andrew Barnard, and explained it to him. 
Sir Andrew instantly gave me a note (which I now hold in 



208 ADVENTURES OF 

my possession)* for Sir David Dundas, the then Governor 
of Chelsea. Thus provided, and equipped in my uniform, 
I set out for Sir David's residence, and found him walking 
about the grounds in front of his house, at Chelsea College. 
I handed my paper to him in person, and retired aside while 
he perused it. But Sir David having scanned it without 
turning his head, tossing aside his pigtail with his fore- 
finger, cooly handed the note over his shoulders to me, 
remarking at the same moment, that he dared say the Lords 
Commissioners of Chelsea had given me what they thought 
I deserved. 

The old gentleman, I suppose, possessed too much of 
the Spartan blood, to notice me more than he did ; and 
Jike the two survivors of Thermopylae, he thought my 
return to England highly inglorious, and unbefitting a 
soldier ; since it had made me a sixpenny burthen on the 
country I had served. 

Day after day we struggled with our necessities, and I 
confess I saw nothing but starvation staring me in the face. 
What was to be done ? • My faithful Augustine deliberated 
with me in our misfortune, with great patience, and we 
agreed that it would be most desirable for her to return to 
her uncle, and endeavour to move the family of her father 
to a reconciliation with us both. Her infant, she thought, 
could not fail to excite commiseration ; but how were we 
to defray the expenses of so long a journey ? However, 
having received several wounds in the service, I was 

* 28, Berkeley Square, March 2nd, 1819. 

I strongly recommend to your notice, and to the attention of the Board of 
Chelsea, the bearer, Edward Costello, late sergeant in the first battalion Rifle 
Brigade, for an increase of pension for his gallant services, he having been 
discharged in consequence of wounds received in action. 

A. F. Barnard, 

Major. General Commanding, 

First Battalion Rifle Brigade. 

To General Sir E ; Dundas, 
&c, &c, &c. 
Colonel-in-Chief, Rifle Brigade, 

To this hour it remained unaltered. 



A SOLDIER. 209 

entitled to what is commonly termed " blood money." A 
certificate to that effect, and signed by my commanding 
officer and the adjutant of my regiment, I now had by me. 
This was to be presented to the parson of the parish in 
which I was resident one month after my discharge. The 
Honourable Dr. Wellesley, brother to the Duke of Welling- 
ton, being rector of Chelsea, I appealed to him, and he 
referred me to a Mr. Walsford, Secretary of the Patriotic 
Fund, No. 80, Cornhill. But this gentleman was even 
more Spartan than the Lords Commissioners, for after two 
or three struts up and down his office, he suddenly stopped, 
and staring me very stupidly in the face, said, " Damn it, 
Sir! did you expect to fight with puddings or Norfolk 
dumplings ? If men go to battle, what else can they expect 
but wounds ! I am now busy, and cannot be troubled with 
you." I returned to Chelsea — represented my situation to 
Mr. Wellesley, and through him, succeeded in obtaining 
a small sum — five pounds — for the wound at Waterloo, 
but none for the others which I received in the Peninsula. 
With this scanty supply we proceeded to Dover, thence to 
Calais, and from thence to St. Omer, where, taking leave 
of my beloved Augustine and her infant (for the last time), 
we parted. She promised to write me word immediately 
she succeeded with her family, and, if not, it was agreed 
that as soon as my circumstances improved she should 
return to me. " Ne m'oubliez pas" were her last words : 
as she squeezed my hand. 

Without a farthing in my pocket, for I had given the 
last sou to her, and was determined to forage my own way 
home the best way I could, I again set off for Calais, 
where I arrived in much distress. Here fortune was 
favourable to me. A brother mason kindly befriended me, 
4 and gave me a free passage to Dover. Had it not been 
for this kind assistance, I know not how I should have 
crossed the Straits. At Dover nothing could exceed my 
wretchedness ; I had struggled with difficulties in a foreign 
country, but I was now returned to my own as if I had 
been an outcast upon earth, without a friend or farthing 
in the world. The thought maddened me. For a day and 
a night I walked the streets of Dover, and scarcely tasted 



210 ADVENTURES OF 

food. A thousand times I asked myself "What can I 
do ? How shall I act ?" Begging was out of the question 
— a soldier could not beg. More fitted in this state of mind 
for a highwayman than a beggar, I said to myself, " Can 
I not rob ?" I had no fire-arms. Thus, pondering how I 
should proceed, I walked slowly along the road that leads 
to Canterbury, and on a sudden espied a number of hop- 
poles in an adjoining field. The thought flashed like 
lightning on my brain, that I would seize one of these, and 
knock down the first man who came past. Clearing the 
hedge at a jump, and pulling one of the poles out of the 
pile, and snapping it off at the butt-end, and retiring to my 
position on the road, I resolutely glanced about in search 
of the first passenger, and as quickly at some distance, 
observed two men walking smartly towards me. I squeezed 
my cudgel firm in my hand, and awaited their approach ; 
but ere I could bring myself to a proper sense of what I 
was about, one of the men suddenly shot himself beside 
me, saying, " What, Ned ! is that you, my boy ? How 
are you ?" shaking me by the hand at the same time. In 
an instant I recognized him to be a man of my own regi- 
ment, named Jem Conner, but I could scarcely answer 
him ; he noticed my confusion, and in the same breath, 
while he still held my hand, insisted on my returning with 
him to Dover. Little dreaming the true cause of my 
agitation, I returned with him, where he informed me he 
was married. I have often thought that the circumstance of 
a friend being the person on whom I thus alighted, was a 
providential interference that prevented my committing an 
act which would ever have embittered my future life. 
Perhaps, by similar interposition, however imperceptible to 
man, many are saved from the commission of crime. 

Before parting from my generous comrade, who insisted 
on my sleeping at his house that night, and although 
himself in needy circumstances, he provided me most 
liberally with what I most required ; (poor fellow ! he was 
severely wounded at Waterloo, passed the board, and 
married a woman at Dover:)* I explained to him my 

* This Conner now resides at Chelsea, and I am happy to say, in good circum- 
stances, at his trade as a tailor. 



A SOLDIER. 211 

abject situation, when he advised me to lay my Chelsea 
discharge before the Commandant at Dover, who was then 
Colonel Ford, and solicit from him sufficient means to 
carry me to London. This was to beg — a task contrary 
to my nature. I asked him what I was to say ? how act ? 
for I had been a soldier since I was sixteen years of age, 
and was unacquainted with the forms of civil life. He gave 
me such advice as occurred to him, accompanied me on the 
road, and showed me the house at which the Colonel 
resided. It was, I remember, at the end of the town, near 
the General Hospital. 

With an unwilling hand I rung the bell. The door was 
immediately opened. " Is the Colonel at home ?" said I. 
" Do you wish to see him V* answered the footman, sur- 
veying my person. "I do," was my reply, "tell him that 
a sergeant of the Rifles wishes to speak to him." The 
servant then stepping across the hall, went into the room, 
and while the door was ajar, I heard the Colonel ask, 
" Is he in uniform or in coloured clothes ?" " In coloured 
clothes," was the answer. " Tell him to come in." I 
entered the room slowly, and believe me, I went with more 
spirits on the forlorn-hope at Badajoz than I now did into 
the presence of this officer. He was standing with his 
back to the fire-place. "Well, friend," said he, "what do 
you want ?" In a doubtful tone, I answered, " I want to 
know, Sir, if you will lend me a little money, to carry me 
to London, and I will pay you when I get my pension." 
While thus delivering myself, which I did in a very con- 
fused manner, the Colonel stooped, and staring me full in 
the face, as if he thought me mad, with a stentorian voice, 
he exclaimed, " God damn you, Sir ! who are you, what 
are you, what do you want ?" The Colonel's uncouth 
manner suddenly overwhelmed my already sinking heart ; 
but the whole spirit of the "man" rebounding from the 
shock, instantaneously brought me about again, for recover- 
ing myself, in a firm, earnest, yet determined manner, I 
replied, " Sir, I am a man brought to the last pitch of 
distress, without friend or money. If you will assist me, 
pray do so, but do not insult my feelings." Then laying 
my papers on the table, I added, "There, Sir, are my 

p 2 



212 ADVENTURES OF 

papers ; keep them until I refund the money. I am a 
Sergeant of the Rifle Brigade, who has seen service." 
Taking my Chelsea discharge, and reading over attentively 
the wounds I had received, he looked at me with altogether 
an altered expression, and said, " You must have been a 
gallant fellow, or you would not have got so many scars in 
the service ; which battalion did you belong to ?" I told 
him the first. He then asked me what money I wanted to 
take me to London. I answered it was only seventy-one 
miles, and two shillings would be sufficient, as I could walk 
more than thirty-five miles a day, I had no knapsack to 
carry, and a shilling per day would do for me. 

There my feelings overpowered me, and he, seeing my 
emotion, turned himself round to the fire-place, evidently 
affected ; then, facing me again, said, " Tut, tut ! a brave 
soldier should not mind a little poverty ;" for at this time 
I could not answer him ; then, ringing the bell, the foot- 
man who was in attendance came into the room, " Tell the 
cook," said he, " to get a good dinner ready for a gallant 
soldier." Then, putting a chair towards me, in a friendly 
manner told me to sit down, and began conversing fami- 
liarly. He asked a number of questions concerning the 
Peninsular war ; but we were shortly interrupted by the 
servant, informing him dinner was ready. "Go, now," 
said he, " and take some refreshment." But, alas ! my 
appetite was gone ; I could have eaten a donkey before, but 
now I could not break bread. The servants, observing me 
so discomposed, went and informed the Colonel of it, when 
he came to me himself, tapping me on the shoulder, saying, 
" Come, come, make a good dinner," then, turning to the 
servant, ordered him to bring a bottle of wine. After my 
repast he again returned, accompanied by a lady, perhaps 
his wife or daughter, to whom he had probably been 
speaking of me, and who may have felt curious to see the 
rough soldier who had gone through so memorable a 
campaign. He now slipped some twelve half-crowns into 
my hand, and desired me on no account to walk, but to 
take coach to London ; at the same time he presented me 
my papers. I thanked him, but requested he would keep 
them until I could return the money. "No, no;" he 



A SOLDIER. 213 

replied, " I make you a present of it." He then, in a very 
kind manner said, " Your old Colonel, Colonel Barnard, is 
made a General, and a Knight. He is now Major-General 
Sir Andrew Barnard ; and, if you wish it, I will write to 
him about you." Again I thanked him, and said, <e The 
Colonel is well acquainted with me." I left the house with 
feelings of gratitude which I could not give utterance to ; 
and never, although many years have passed, shall I forget 
the kindness of Colonel Ford. 

On my return to London I wrote to Augustine, but 
received no answer. I waited with anxiety, and then came 
the mournful intelligence of her death ; most likely owing 
to her father, as he remained inexorable to the last. Poor 
Augustine ! Peace be to thy memory ! 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

I enter the British Legion as Lieutenant — I raise a regiment of Riflemen— Ap- 
point the non-commissioned officers — Recruiting districts — The peer and the 
dustmen — General Evans thanks — Embark at Gravesend — Voyage across the 
Bay of Biscay — Arrival in Spain — We land at Portugaletta — Pat's logic — 
Spanish sentries shoot a man by mistake — A bad omen— Men confined for not 
wearing that which they never had — Modern rifle officers — Colonel de Botten- 
burgh— Legion officers classified — Fine appearance of the men— Bifles march 
to Zorossa— Head quarters at Bilboa— Bad quarters of the men— Severe drills 
— Bad beginning— The men begin to droop through ill-treatment — " Cats" in- 
discriminately used — Lieutenant Bobinson drowned. 

From early youth, war has my mistress been, 
And tho' a rugged one, I'll constant prove, 
And not forsake her now. 

It will be unnecessary for me to drag the reader through 
my chequered life, from the time I left the British army 
until my last campaign in Spain. I shall, therefore, jump 
across the interval, and bring him at once to the period at 
which I entered the British Legion. 

It is generally remarked that the life of a service soldier 
is full of incident ; but the sphere in which he is designed 
to move can be understood only by those who have them- 
selves moved in it. In general, old soldiers in describing 



214 ADVENTURES OF 

battles, fill their accounts with the roar of cannon, the 
clouds of smoke, and the groans and cries of the wounded 
and dying ; but in this part of my narrative, if I cannot 
relate the former, I will endeavour to describe the miseries 
of the unfortunate men with whom it was my fate to serve ; 
and as I mean neither to borrow nor dispose of any other 
man's stuff, I will relate those things only that came under 
my own observation. 

I am aware that some military men fancy a man cannot 
fight unless he has his country's cause at heart, that in 
their ideas being the only thing capable of arousing his 
martial ardour ; but I beg most humbly to differ from 
those gentlemen, and to tell them, that when a British 
subject is put into uniform, and placed in the ranks, with 
a firelock in his hand, before an enemy, he requires no 
stimulant nor patriotic impulse to urge him in attacking 
those opposed to him ; neither can I see why a British 
subject should be ridiculed or prevented from (what he 
terms) " earning an honest livelihood ;" nor why if he 
prefers being knocked on the head in serving a Foreign 
Power, he should be termed a mercenary and a murderer, 
as has been the case with the Legion. 

But if he be kidnapped by a recruiting- sergeant, or 
pressed by a press-gang into the British service, there is 
no doubt but that John Bull and his brethren of the sister 
kingdoms, will make the best of a bad matter, which, as 
old soldiers well know, is only to be done by going the 
whole hog on every occasion ; most soldiers like myself, 
find in their muskets and bayonets, their only title-deeds ; 
these from the " smallness" of the estates they represent 
are but poor guarantees : when, cut up and well drilled 
by bullets, or long and active service ; old age steals on, 
and premature infirmities commence their march upon 
them. 

In the beginning of July, 1835, I enclosed documents 
from officers of rank in the British army, with a statement 
of my own service and the rank I had held in that service 
to Colonel, now Sir De Lacy Evans, and expressed a wish 
to enter under his command. 



A SOLDIER. 215 

In the course of a few days an answer was sent to me 
from Mr. H. Bulwer,* M.P. for St. Marylebone, stating 
that Colonel Evans had appointed me as Lieutenant in 
the 7th Light Infantry, B.A.L., and requesting me to 
attend at his house that day, as General Evans wished to 
see me. 

I attended at the hour appointed, and for the first time 
had the honour of conversing with the General himself, 
who treated me with that gentlemanly courtesy for which 
he has ever been remarked ; among other matters, he asked 
me several questions concerning a Rifle regiment, and 
their probable efficacy in the field. To these, according to 
my humble experience, I gave him to understand that as 
the war was principally confined to the Pyrenees, and the 
northern and more mountainous provinces, no body of 
men could be more efficient, both from their dress as well 
as their arms. 

He approved of my remark, and resolved accordingly to 
form at least one regiment of Rifles, and, as a first step, to 
appoint me Lieutenant and Adjutant of the regiment. He 
then gave me instructions to form recruiting parties, to 
raise five or six hundred men for that regiment, and par- 
ticularly enjoined me to get as many old soldiers of the 
British Rifles as I possibly could. The Adjutancy I de- 
clined accepting, but I begged to be empowered to appoint 
a few non-commissioned officers as an encouragement to the 
old Peninsulars. This power he instantly granted me, and 
extended even to all whom I thought fitting for that duty, 
adding, " I will acquaint the Colonel of your regiment that 
I have granted you these privileges." Mr. Bulwer remark- 
ing, " If I went into the country I might pick up many 
gamekeepers, who, he thought, would make excellent rifle- 
men." I replied, " That man shooting and game shoot- 
ing were very different," at which they both laughed 
heartily. 

I immediately set to work and got hand-bills printed, 
and established recruiting parties at Westminster, the 
Borough, and Tower Hill, &c, and appointed about half a 

* Now Sir Henry Bulwer. 



216 ADVENTURES OF 

dozen sergeants and corporals, who were immediately sup- 
plied with green clothing. I next proceeded to Chatham 
and Gravesend, and stationed recruiting parties there also ; 
and in the short space of two months we raised five hun- 
dred men. 

A motley group I enlisted, from the sons of peers, down 
even to dustmen, including doctors, lawyers, parsons' 
clerks, and all the trades necessary to form a national 
hive of cunning, craft and industry. I had an honourable 
for a sergeant (the Honourable A. Curzon), a doctor for a 
corporal (A. M. Hart), the former of whom was afterwards 
appointed Lieutenant. 

These recruits I sent in small detachments on board the 
' Swiftsure,' then lying at Portsmouth, the head- quarters of 
the regiment, appointing one sergeant and one corporal to 
every sixteen privates. In the beginning of September 
1835, I received a letter from Baron de Rottenburgh, our 
Colonel, that the regiment was about to start for Spain, 
wishing me to make as much haste as possible in joining. 

A few days after this I embarked from Gravesend, with 
nearly one hundred more men for the Rifles, on board the 
c London Merchant 5 steamer, and arrived at Portsmouth the 
following day ; but, unfortunately, the whole of the regi- 
had already sailed for Spain ; after paying the men their 
bounty of two pounds each, the next morning we sailed 
also. 

After a very pleasant voyage through the Bay of Biscay, 
about the middle of September, we came in sight of the 
Spanish coast ; at first the eye was struck with the wild 
and magnificent sweep of the Pyrenean mountains, which 
to those unaccustomed to such scenery must be truly sub- 
lime. Through our glasses we could distinctly perceive the 
various little towns that dotted here and there the different 
inlets of the bay, and which had a very peculiar and wild 
appearance. But as we approached the land we could 
plainly discern, marching up the mountain sides, small 
bodies of soldiers which many on board mistook for the 
troops of Don Carlos, but on closer inspection we discerned 
to be the Queen's. 

Brigadier- General Evans, who was on board, having 



A SOLDIER. 217 

determined to land here, the necessary preparations were 
being made, when, to our surprise a vessel hove in sight, 
bearing the remainder of the Rifles from Santander to 
Bilboa. They were fully equipped with rifle and green 
clothing, and disembarked near Portugaletta, while we with 
the recruits landed also. 

Thus, on the 19th September, about seven o'clock on a 
beautiful summer evening, I again landed on that soil on 
which, some four or five and twenty years ago I had wit- 
nessed so many severe contests. We landed near an old 
church, where the recruits were to remain for the night, 
without blankets, great-coats, or any sort of comfort, in the 
colonnades of a damp church. I shall never forget the dis- 
course which took place between two of the men. One 
said to the other, " Are we to get no billets, but stop here 
for the night without straw, and nothing but these cold 
damp flag-stones to lie on? why, I see the General's horses 
over the way, that have just landed, put into warm stables 
with straw ; surely we are better than horses?" " Arrah, 
and who the devil tould you so ?" said a countryman of 
mine, looking him hard in the face, " be my soul, the 
Queen of Spain only gave two pounds a-head for such 
fellows as you and me, and can get thousands more at the 
same money ; while she is compelled to give fifty pounds 
for every horse !" Pat's logic had the desired effect, and 
the poor recruits stretched their weary limbs for the 
night, with nothing but a thin smock-frock to keep them 
warm. 

There was, at the time, in possession of Portugaletta, a 
Spanish regiment of the Queen's Infantry doing duty, this 
made it exceedingly dangerous for any of our men to ap- 
proach those fellows, from their ignorance and stupidity, 
for they looked upon anything bearing arms to be an 
enemy. One of my company had a melancholy experience 
of this, for on coming close to a Spanish sentry, under the 
darkness of the evening, he was challenged from a loop-hole 
through the mud-wall surrounding Portugaletta. The 
Englishman not knowing the language, could give no 
answer, and the consequence was, the Spaniard instantly 



218 ADVENTURES OF 

fired and shot him through the knee. The poor fellow 
remained on the spot where he fell until the morning, his 
comrades being afraid to approach him for fear of a similar 
fate, and when brought to the company the next day, 
through weakness and loss of blood, while under amputa- 
tion he died under the hands of the doctor. This for the 
first night of our landing was rather a bad omen. Passing 
the guard-house, with the intention of seeing how the men 
had fared during the night, at least half a dozen voices 
assailed my ears, cc Oh ! Sir ! I hope you will get us re- 
leased ; we have been confined all night and have done no 
crime." Perceiving they were some of the recruits I had 
brought over, I called the sergeant of the guard to inquire 
the cause ; he informed me that they had been confined by 
officers of our regiment, for walking about without their 
regimentals ; the men, however, had disembarked only the 
night before, and had not received their clothing ; I ordered 
them to be released. 

For this act of justice I shortly afterwards was nearly 
what was termed " called out" by a brace of officers of the 
Rifles (whom I knew only by their uniform), and who 
very abruptly asked me, why I had released men whom 
they had confined ! I answered, that no crime had been 
committed by them, and that I deemed it right to release 
them, as men in the British Army were never confined 
without cause. 

" Sir," said one, in an austere voice, cc I know what 
soldiering is. I have fought and seen service as well as 
the British Army." The reader has, perhaps, already 
guessed that these " gentlemen" formerly belonged to Don 
Pedro, and had served in Portugal during the struggle for 
that crown. 

I was anxious to see my Colonel to report myself, but 
on going to his quarters I heard another of my poor fellows 
lustily calling on me to intercede for him. This was in a 
small field, close to the village, where he was being held 
down, across a low, dry wall, by two men, while the bugler 
was belabouring him on the bare breech with the " cats," 
and another of these Pedroite officers standing by seeing 



A SOLDIER. 219 

the punishment inflicted. The poor fellow had been for- 
merly a bugler in the British Army, and was now flogged 
for straggling into Portugaletta without leave. I had not 
yet been sixteen hours on the Spanish soil, but I was 
growing heartily sick of the campaign, even at this early 
period. 

In the course of the day, I had an opportunity of 
mixing with the officers ; who in appearance were a fine 
set of fellows. 

They were composed of three different classes. The 
first were gentlemen who formerly held commissions in 
the British Army ; the second were those who, through 
interest, had obtained commissions from General Evans ; 
and the third class, and who, I was sorry to find, were 
treble in number to the other two, were what is termed 
Pedroites. These last self-taught heroes were brought up 
in neither military nor civil life, but had passed a little 
Quixotic tour under Don Pedro. In fact, every regiment 
of the Legion, like my own, was full of Pedroites. 

The recruits, at length, having received arms and 
clothing, were drafted into companies, each about a hun- 
dred strong, and of which six completed the regiment ; 
they were a fine set of men, and with the Legion altogether, 
if properly handled, would have done credit to any army in 
Europe. 

During the few days that we remained here, a Major, 
formerly in the British Army, named Barton, of the Rifles, 
resigned ; this left a vacancy, which was immediately filled 
by the senior Captain, Fortescue. This caused a vacancy 
for a Captain, and I was promoted to that rank, in his 
place, and took command of his company ; I may say with 
safety, I was one of the few officers in command of a com- 
pany, at the time, that could put the men even through 
their facings. After remaining here about a week, our 
regiment was ordered to march, and we took possession of 
a small village, Zorossa, about two miles from Bilboa, and 
situated on the left bank of the Nervion. This place had 
experienced all the ravages and desolation a civil war could 
inflict ; the houses were in a most dilapidated state. That 
in which myself and a number of other officers were quar- 



220 ADVENTURES OF 

tered had been evidently tenanted by an opulent person ; 
but the furniture and interior decorations of the rooms had 
been destroyed, or defaced by the soldiers of Don Carlos, 
who had been in possession of the village a short time before 
our entry. 

Here lay one of her Britannic Majesty's gun-brigs, the 
c Ringdove', to afford assistance and protection to vessels 
passing up the river from the bay to Bilboa, with arms, 
ammunition, and stores for the Legion : yet, strange to say, 
the crew of the ' Ringdove' were on the most friendly terms 
with the Carlist troops until we arrived. 

Bilboa was at this time the head- quarters of the Legion. 
With the view of relieving this important commercial town 
from the state of blockade which it had sustained ; and of 
affording protection to the works which were at this time 
erecting for its defence, and probably also for keeping open 
a more easy communication with England, for the supply 
of recruits, stores, &c, a few troops were stationed at 
Bilboa — but in straggling convents and houses about its 
suburbs. The soldiers of the Legion, notwithstanding 
these arrangements, were badly quartered — the greater 
part of them laying on the cold stone floors of churches 
and convents, without beds, blankets, or even straw. It 
was evident to me, even thus early in the campaign, that 
General Evans did not display much solicitude or feeling 
for the comforts of his soldiers. The men, who were at 
this time chiefly raw recruits, unaccustomed to the change 
of diet as well as to the climate of the country, undergoing 
fatiguing military instructions by a severe daily drill of 
six hours, surely a representation of their situation to the 
proper Spanish authorities by General Evans would have 
made things better for the poor men : but this was merely 
a foretaste of the treatment that was to be endured by 
them, which I shall have more particularly to allude to, 
after their arrival at Vittoria, &c. 

But the miserable and comfortless condition of the men 
was nothing to the disgraceful Provost system which was 
carried on most rigorously in every regiment of the 
Legion. Any officer, for the slightest supposed derelic- 
tion of duty, or as he felt inclined, could order a man 



A SOLDIER. 221 

from one to four dozen lashes. Every regiment had its 
provost ; nay, in some there were two, with a proportion 
of cats.* 

It mattered not who they were, recruits or old cam- 
paigners, of which last there were no less than a dozen 
(Chelsea pensioners), in the company I commanded. 
Although the rules of the service at first starting were 
boasted as being purely British, I now found them entirely 
different. 

In the British army there was only one provost in a 
division of perhaps eight or ten regiments. Again, no 
officer, not even the provost himself, could order a dozen 
lashes unless he found the man in the act of plundering. 
Below is given a G. O.f issued by the Duke of Wellington. 

I had the misfortune to lose a fuie active young officer of 
my company, a Second Lieutenant named Bobinson. In 
crossing the river from Bilboa in the dark, by some acci- 
dent he fell overboard and was drowned. His body was 

* Vide j General Order under Evans. 

" G. O., Head Quarters, San Sebastian, 

" September 2, 1835. 
* " All provosts and their assistants are empowered to inflict summary 
punishment on the breech to the amount of twenty-four lashes, according to the 
degree of the offence, on soldiers and followers of the army committing offences 
against discipline, plundering, drunkenness, violence, and, in short, everything 
tending to the subversion of good order in the army. The provost must either 
witness the offence himself or have it from the evidence of competent eye wit- 
nesses ; the punishment in every case to be inflicted on the spot or near the 
same." 

t " G. O. Head Quarters, Frenada, 

" November 1, 1811. 

"The office of Provost Marshal has existed in all British armies in the field 
* his authority must be limited by the necessity of the case, and whatever 
be the crime of which a soldier may be guilty, the Provost Marshal has not the 
power of inflicting summary punishment for it unless he should see him in the 
act of committing it- If he should not see him in the act of committing it, he 
is directed to report the offence to the Commander-in-chief of the army, in order 
that the soldier be tried, and evidence adduced against him. Further the Com- 
mander of the Forces desires that it may be clearly understood that no officer 
whatever has a right to order the Provost Marshal, or his assistants, to exercise 
the authority intrusted to them ; nor can the Provost Marshal, or his assistants, 
inflict punishment on any man, except they should see him in the act of commit- 
ting a breach of orders and discipline. Their duty is, by vigilance and activity, ' 
to prevent those breaches which the Commander of the Forces is sorry to observe 
are too common, and to punish those they may catch in the fact." 



222 ADVENTURES OF 

not found until next morning. His father is Captain and 
Paymaster in the 60th regiment. This unfortunate young 
man, like a numher of others who died in Spain, had an 
excellent kit, which was sold amongst the officers of our 
regiment. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Intention of the Spanish Government respecting our winter quarters— March to 
Vittoria— Enemy oblige us to go round — The rear of the Legion engaged — 
Baggage divided from it— Commencement of the plunder at Bilboa — Arrival at 
Castro — Enemy supposed to be in the vicinity — We remain at Castro— March 
the next day — Mountainous route — An accident — The pass of Las Goras— March 
to Bonia— My company placed in the advance— Orders to prepare for cavalry 
— Doubts and fears — A narrow escape — Arrival at Breviesca — Breviesca — Head 
Quarters — My old Patrone — Hints to revolutionists — System of regular drill 
begun — Riflemen drilled collectively — I practice my company in sham fighting 
— Provosts and hardship— Lay in a winter stock of sickness — Legion paid up 
to November, 1835 — Last payment — March of death — We march for Vittoria — 
Pass of Pancorbo — The dead Patrone — Approach to Vittoria— My old recol- 
lections — The 45th — Halt about three miles from the city — Spanish troops 
come out to meet us — Triumphant entry into Vittoria — The veteran Colonel. 

In pursuance of the intention of the Spanish Govern- 
ment that the auxiliaries should winter and complete their 
military discipline in Vittoria or Breviesca, on the 30th of 
October, 1835, the Legion, in conjunction with a division 
under Espartero, commenced its march to those places. It 
was well known that at this period the enemy were antici- 
pating our movements and intended destination, and learn- 
ing that our route would be on the Durango road, they 
posted themselves in great strength to give us a warm re- 
ception. The formidable attitude of the Carlists, however, 
induced General Evans to abandon this direct line of march 
upon Vittoria, not more than twelve leagues distant, and 
to take a more circuitous, and almost pathless route, of 
sixty leagues, over a difficult and mountainous district. 

The main body of the Legion started about six in the 
morning, but the whole had not quitted till late at noon, 
when closed in upon their rear by the Guerillas and Carlist 
peasantry. They became separated from the baggage, 



A SOLDIER. 223 

which, but for the contiguity of Bilboa, would have been 
all taken. The consequence was, that almost the whole 
returned, and was supposed to have been placed under the 
care of the British Consul and the Alcalde of the city, 
who, in conjunction with a few others, actively employed, 
may be said to have originated the plunder which subse- 
quently devoured almost all the luggage of the Legion 
officers ; quantities without lists, or any regular accounts, 
having been indiscriminately heaped in stores, and thence 
as carelessly embarked for Santander. 

Meanwhile, on the second day's march, we came to 
Castro, where, as we expected to meet the enemy, my 
company was selected to form a rear-guard in the event of 
the Carlists attacking our rear. Near the town, as expected, 
a number of the Guerillas, who were always on the look- 
out, fired on our rear sections, and a poor fellow of the 
Westminster Grenadiers, who through fatigue had straggled 
from his regiment, w r as shot through the thigh. I instantly 
started a few old soldiers after them, who very soon put them 
to flight. This was the first time that I had heard the 
whistle of a Carlist ball. I then placed the wounded 
soldier on my pony till we arrived at Castro, where we 
halted for the night. We found this place to be a wretchedly 
filthy hole ; a sea-port on the Bay of Biscay, and then occu- 
pied by two regiments, and some artillery of the Queen's 
troops. 

At daybreak the next morning, we left Castro, and 
after an advance of five or six miles, a Spanish officer who 
had been riding rapidly to overtake us, informed the 
General that the enemy were again advantageously posted, 
and in great strength, awaiting our arrival a few miles 
further on. On this intelligence we were again ordered to 
the right-about. However, my company, who were on 
the advance in the morning with some Lancers, received 
orders from General Reid to remain where we were, until 
the main body had reached the bottom of a hill, about two 
miles distant ; but expecting to see the Carlists fast ad- 
vancing upon us, I thought it more prudent to follow in 
quick time, with the Lancers behind us. We remained for 
the night in the small villages round Castro. 



224 ADVENTURES OF 

The next day's march was a very harassing one. Our 
route led over high mountains, with scarcely a path, and 
almost unknown even to our guides ; however, for my own 
part, this was compensated for by one of the most majestic 
pieces of scenery I ever beheld. The country around us 
was beautifully romantic ; the Bay of Biscay, from our 
elevated position, appearing but a short distance off, while 
the clouds which encircled that part in our view, kept 
circling upwards and throwing a reflection on the serene 
surface of the sea, that seemed almost enchanting. 

At the entrance of a small village on the hill just men- 
tioned, the rifle of a Sergeant Johnson, of my company, 
while on trail, went off, and shot a man named Neal, the 
ball entering at the back and passing out at the groin. 
We conducted him to a house where, for want of convey- 
ance, we were obliged to leave him to the mercy of the 
mountain peasantry ; this poor fellow, strange to say, was 
brother to the man who, the night of our landing, had 
been shot by the sentry at Portugaletta. They were both 
fine young men, and deserved a better fate. 

At night, after a fatiguing march, the brigade as usual 
was quartered in a damp church. The day following we 
proceeded on our march, but a great deal of anxiety was 
experienced lest a celebrated pass (Las Goras) which we 
had to advance upon, should be occupied by the enemy. 
About four o'clock we arrived, but found it in possession of 
the Queen's troops, and for the first time, we bivouacked 
in a wood. The next morning the harassed and jaded con- 
dition of the men was so evident, that we could not proceed 
until several bullock-carts had been procured. 

On the following morning we continued our march for 
several days, till we arrived at the banks of the river 
Ebro, the scene of many of my former campaigns. After 
passing the bridge the prospect became beautifully varied, 
the Ebro silently meandering in its serpentine course, 
through a broad and fertile valley, at the base of a 
chain of mountains which, verging towards the Medi- 
terranean, were here and there dotted with villages and 
lonely cottages, the scattered husbandmen quietly occupied 
in the tillage of their fields. 



A SOLDIER. 225 

We still continued to advance for about fifteen miles, 
through a country increasing at every turn in beauty and 
attraction, until we entered a very narrow pass, surrounded 
on every side by stupendous and rocky mountains, all 
rising so abruptly, and to such a magnificent height, that 
they seemed to threaten destruction to the whole Legion 
as it passed beneath. 

This formidable passage could with ease be defended by 
a handful of men against several thousands. The immense 
and natural magazines of rocks that appeared to nod de- 
struction to the passing stranger, might be hurled with 
awful effect on troops marching below. 

Early in the afternoon the Legion reached Onai, a small 
and very ancient town, celebrated for its splendid and 
richly endowed monastery. Our brigade was quartered for 
the night in the monastery, and as we entered I observed 
the monks and friars apparently in great consternation, 
making a hasty exit with their beds and furniture. Time 
and war had made strange changes in this magnificent 
convent, originally built for the religious exercises and 
devotional retirement of its monkish recluses, was now 
turned into a barrack ; its sacred silence seldom disturbed 
but by the devotional hum of the prostrate " sinners/ 5 
now broken in upon by boisterous clamour and the sacri- 
legious intrusion of men whose worldly object and employ- 
ment formed a strong contrast to the ascetic life of the 
secluded monks. 

On the 9th of November, very early, we proceeded on 
our line of march towards Breviesca. An attack of the 
enemy's cavalry was at this time expected in great force, 
therefore the whole of the Rifles, prior to marching, were 
ordered to load. Our Colonel and General Reid called me 
on one side, and told me, as my company was going to take 
the advanced-guard, they wished me to keep a good look 
out, as everything in the shape of cavalry was sure to be 
our enemy. We had not proceeded more than a mile on 
the road, and before the morning had clearly dawned, 
when the advanced files cried out to me the cavalry were 
formed across the road. I made it a rule, during the 
march, to leave my two Lieutenants with the rear sub- 

a 



226 ADVENTURES OF 

division, and take the advance myself, as they were inex- 
perienced, and knew little of these matters. I instantly 
ordered the bugler to sound the halt, merely to give notice 
to the battalion in the rear, and dismounting from my 
pony took one of the men's rifles. I sent directions for 
the Lieutenant to see the men get under cover in the most 
secure manner, in case the cavalry should charge, and to 
keep up a brisk tire on them. I then advanced to the 
front file, and immediately challenged the cavalry, then 
about fifty yards from me, with rifle cocked and half 
presented. The answer was given, "amigos" (friends). 
I then ordered them to advance, which a few did, with 
their officer, very cautiously. When I found them to be 
the Queen's troops I allowed them to pass. There was 
about a troop. Before we had proceeded a quarter of a 
mile further, we came in sight of a regiment of infantry, 
which immediately threw out a company in extended order 
on both sides of the road. This put us on our metal again, 
and bringing up the rear section, I gave them directions 
to extend ; but no man to fire without receiving orders 
from me. We then advanced most cautiously, when I 
perceived an officer waving a white handkerchief on a 
sword, and advancing towards me. I instantly met him, 
and found these also to be Queen's troops, the cavalry 
which we first met being their advance-guard. General 
M'Dougal and General Reid, with our Colonel de Rotten- 
berg, rode up, and thanked me for the cautious manner in 
which I had acted, remarking that, had any inexperienced 
officer been in my place, most serious consequences 
might have ensued, as the Queen's troops had taken us 
for the enemy, not knowing that any of the Legion was 
dressed otherwise than in red uniform. I jokingly replied, 
I had been brought up in Wellington's school, where we 
were taught to make no blunders. I could find, the short 
time I had been with the Legion, that chief part of the 
officers did not know a friend from the enemy. We arrived 
at Breviesca about four o'clock in the afternoon, much to 
the joy of the Legion, as it was appointed as a temporary 
place of rest, if not of winter quarters. 

This march occupied nine days. The distance from 



A SOLDIER. 227 

Bilboa, by the circuitous and difficult route we had taken, 
was about sixty leagues, which is, upon an average, about 
twenty English miles a day. 

Breviesca is an ancient town of considerable extent, 
situated in an open plain, in the province of Castile ; and 
is distant from Vittoria about forty miles, and twenty from 
Burgos ; it is surrounded by a mud wall. 

Head-quarters were now at Breviesca, but the town not 
affording accommodation sufficient for the whole Legion, 
several regiments were quartered in the adjacent villages. 

The inhabitants of this and the neighbouring localities, 
had been much oppressed at different periods, and parti- 
cularly by the French, during the Peninsular war. The 
old patrone of the house in which I was quartered, gave me 
a long recital of the exactions he had been subject to, 
during that period, by soldiers of different armies, these 
he related with the tears rolling over his aged cheeks, 
which, no doubt, his extraordinary sufferings had mainly 
contributed to wither. Indeed, the Spaniards, since my 
last sojourn amongst them, had made but very little pro- 
gress towards improvement, the joint influence of foreign 
invasion, priestcraft, and civil strife, having so long, and 
so continually absorbed their energies, that they could 
scarcely be said to have recovered themselves : their 
beautiful country, rich as it was in natural resources, now 
bore the appearance of a desert, patched here and there 
only, by the bands of the cultivator, who planted in fear, 
and gathered in trembling, under the dreadful probabilities 
of having it uprooted, or trodden down by the soldiers of 
either party, and himself, perhaps, and his family stretched 
lifeless amid the ruin. 

If there are any among my readers so lost to common 
sense and patriotism, as to glory in the prospect of revo- 
lution in their own favoured country, let me tell them that 
the "lopping" of the limb is a dangerous remedy, and 
that can scarcely ever be justifiable. Few can wander 
amid the realities of dissevered and disjointed Spain, and 
not feel the truth of my observation. Her treachery may 
be a good plea with some, but war, and especially those 
inappropriately called "civil" are enough to make any 

a 2 



228 ADVENTURES OF 

nation treacherous, especially when " pretended friends " 
ride rough-shod over the soil and feelings of the inha- 
bitants. 

At Breviesca we commenced a regular system of 
drilling, but, in my opinion, useless ; the Rifles were drilled 
collectively, instead of being exercised in light infantry 
manoeuvres, which last, every practical soldier must well 
know, was better adapted to the mountain warfare we were 
about to engage in (not only for the Rifles, but for every 
regiment of the Legion). But instead of this, they were 
confined to marching round in columns of companies, 
saluting the General, forming lines, &c. This I pointed 
out to our Colonel, with a request that we might be 
allowed fifteen or twenty rounds of blank cartridge, to 
exercise the men a little in sham fighting ; to this he 
acceded, and it afterwards proved of great service. 

During the short time we remained at Breviesca, the 
drilling and the provosting system were as usual carried on 
most rigorously : these, with our long and harassing 
march from Bilboa, together with the damp convents, &c, 
laid the foundation of all the sickness and mortality that 
afterwards befel the unfortunate Legion. 

About this time an order came from Madrid, for the 
whole of the men to be paid up to the last day of Novem- 
ber, 1835 ; this was the only settlement that Captains of 
companies had with the paymaster, until the dissolution of 
the Legion. 

After remaining in this town about three weeks, the 
Legion marched for Vittoria, leaving two large hospitals 
crowded with sick. 

The morning of our departure was exceedingly inclement, 
and those who witnessed our march from Breviesca, will 
not readily forget the scene that presented itself. The 
ground was covered with snow ; such of the sick as could 
not be accommodated in the hospitals, in the absence of 
every other conveyance, were mounted upon donkeys, 
supported on each side by their comrades, and enveloped 
in old rugs, watch-coats and blankets, as a protection 
against the inclemency of the season. As this spectre 
group moved along in sad and melancholy procession, 



A SOLDIER. 229 

their gaunt appearance produced a strong sensation upon 
the troops, as they passed them on the line of march. 
The Englishman commented on their worn and wretched 
appearance, and commiserated their sufferings ; while the 
calculating Scotchman anticipated that before long, such 
probably might be their own fate. But an Irishman roared 
out from the ranks, " Prepare to receive cavalry I" and then 
making a full stop, and scratching his head, as he deli- 
berately surveyed, with a serio-comic expression of coun- 
tenance, the melancholy cavalcade of invalids, exclaimed, 
with a significant nod to his comrades, <f By Jasus, boys, 
there's no danger, they are quietly marching to tother 
world !" 

After going through the romantic pass of Pancorbo, we 
halted for the night in a mountain village, on the left of 
the main road. My company was told off to two houses, 
and as I ever made it a rule to visit the men's quarters 
after a day's march, I found in one of their billets, the 
patrone and two of his children laying dead, huddled 
together on some Indian corn-leaves, with an old blanket 
thrown over them, and the unfortunate mother in another 
corner of the room weeping most bitterly, with an infant 
in her arms, without fire, or any other thing to comfort her. 
It appeared, from the forlorn widow's statement, that her 
husband was pressed by the Carlists for a soldier. Being 
fond of his children he deserted, and remained secreted 
until he died from want. "We collected a small sum for 
her, and I got the children interred. 

The next day, at about two o'clock, we came in sight of 
the city of Vittoria ; its towers slowly emerging to the 
view as we neared it over the plains. 

I cannot describe how I felt, on again beholding this 
place, so celebrated for the victory we had gloriously 
achieved here, under our immortal Wellington, some four 
or five- and- twenty years before. The very hedges became 
familiar to me ; but when we arrived at the village on the 
main road where we had taken the first gun, and where I 
so fortunately escaped death, I could no longer suppress 
my emotions, but turning my pony off the road from my 



230 ADVENTURES OF 

company into the fields, I gave vent to my feelings. Weak 
as this may appear, it nevertheless is true, and I stood 
as one — the last of the time-forgotten numbers who had 
consecrated the scene. I felt as it were amidst them, and, 
unconsciously looked about, as if under the impression that 
the soil would throw out some of my old comrades. But 
all was one bleak flat, edged in on either side by mountains, 
which seemed to rear their heads like tombstones o'er the 
glorious sleepers at their base. 

How many a year had passed, how many a care had 
done its best to wither up my heart-strings, but oh ! how 
vain! I was still the "old soldier !" and though garbed and 
tilted with the appointments of Captain of a company, it 
had not altered my nature ; and I verily believe, if the 
offer could have been made, that I should have given up 
epaulettes and all for one short hour's converse with my 
old brother campaigners. 

In the midst of my retrospections, General Reid, to- 
gether with my Colonel, rode up to ask some questions 
about this celebrated battle, which they were aware I had 
been present at, but seeing my discomposed state of mind, 
they most kindly declined making inquiries. Between the 
sorrow I felt for those brave companions, who had fallen 
on every side of me, and the inward pride that burnt in 
my bosom, as one of those who had assisted in that ever- 
memorable contest, I could not compose my fluttering and 
overwhelming feeling ; but this agitated state was broken 
in upon by one of the men of my company, who coming up 
to me said : 

" You cannot conceive, Sir, how queer I feel at the sight 
of this town ; for there, Sir, I was born (pointing to Vit- 
toria) : my poor father was dangerously wounded, and 
while my mother, who so many a time told me the tale, 
attended to him in the hospital, she took to her bed and 
brought me into the world." 

I inquired to what regiment his father had belonged ; 
he informed me the 45th. He seemed much affected as well 
as myself; I slipped him a trifle to drink to his father's 
memory. Poor fellow ! he came to keep his sire com- 



A SOLDIER. 231 

pany, and to fatten the Spanish soil with his own remains, 
as he died in about a month after his arrival in " his birth- 
place." 

We halted for an hour about three miles from the city ; 
we were joined by a number of Spanish troops, both infan- 
try and cavalry, who had marched out to meet us ; as soon 
as the chief part of the Legion had come up, we proceeded 
to march into the town, with Spanish bands at our head, 
playing their national airs. The inhabitants had placed 
over the gates an illuminated globe and festoons of laurels 
&c. ; on the former was an inscription in variegated lamps, 

"To the brave and generous English 
Who fight for the liberty of Nations." 

The windows were crowded with old and young, with 
beauty and deformity, some perhaps from curiosity, some 
to welcome, but most of them waving handkerchiefs, 
shouting vivas and giving other demonstrations of what we 
supposed to be a universal welcome — to thousands a wel- 
come to their last home. Banners were hoisted from tower 
and steeple, and bells jingled in every one of them, and as 
the darkness set in, the whole town was illuminated, and a 
display of fireworks in the Plaza finished the evening. But 
alas ! how soon the Spaniards changed their tune ; we had 
not been three weeks in this sepulchre of the unfor- 
tunate Legion, before they wished us, General and all, 
at the devil. 

I was billeted, as luck would have it, on an old Colonel 
who formerly belonged to the Spanish service and who had 
fought under the Duke of Wellington. He had for some 
years retired on half pay, and as he was very proficient in 
the French language and I also had some knowledge of it, 
we made the time pass very agreeably, entertaining each 
other with anecdotes of our respective sendees. 



232 ADVENTURES OF 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Vittoria as it then was— A bad wind that blows nobody any good — Rifles rather 
comfortable at first — Severe weather — Morning scenes and cries in Vittoria — 
The flogging system — Men not starved — A comparison of facts — Hospitals get 
crammed with sick — Singular economy — The old Colonel's two sons — The Cha- 
pelgorris decimated by order of Espartero — The Rifles march to Matuca — 
The whole Legion assemble at Matuca — Cordova engaged — A Carlist village — 
A confession — A night retreat — Colonel's anxiety — Arlaban — Change of looks 
both in the men and the inhabitants — March to Trevina — Sharp winter of 
1835. 

The morning after our arrival, I took trie earliest oppor- 
tunity to look about the town, and I passed through the 
gates on the great road, leading to Pampeluna. On coming 
to the spot where I fell in with the carriage of Joseph 
Bonaparte, I found that a convent had been built over it, 
which was now converted into a hospital for the Spanish 
soldiers. 

The city and its suburbs, however, were much improved, 
which was accounted for in the immense quantity of money 
and valuables left by the French, in their hurried flight 
before the British troops. Indeed, as the old Colonel 
assured me, the conquerors in that battle were the making 
of Vittoria and had greatly enriched the inhabitants. 

The Rifles were quartered in a convent, and enjoyed for 
a short time more comforts than they had known since 
their arrival in Spain ; as every three men were allowed 
a straw mattress and one blanket, and I made it a practice, 
as long as I could, to see each man provided every morn- 
ing with a pint of warm chocolate, at a charge of three- 
half-pence per day, and also with soups made with rice, 
flour, &c. This soon became general throughout the 
regiment. 

The weather set in very severely, and the morning sun 
not unusually brought on a thaw, after a night which had 
perhaps left the plains ankle-deep in snow. Our drill 
ground also lay some distance from the city, and it fre- 
quently happened that after serving the men with new 
shoes at the morning parade, preparatory to their going to 



A SOLDIER. 233 

drill, they as often returned with them torn to pieces by 
the stiff mud. 

But the most disgusting annoyance I ever met with, was 
on going to inspect the company in the colonnades of the 
convent ; as the whole of our brigade consisting of the 
Rifles, the 3rd Westminster Grenadiers and the 6th Scotch 
were quartered here ; every morning therefore at inspection 
my ears were saluted with the cries of the unfortunate 
soldiers, receiving from one to four dozen lashes, for mis- 
demeanors committed the evening previous. Indeed it was 
a duty imposed upon the Captain of the day, to see these 
punishments inflicted ; but the Colonel agreeing with me 
that this might be performed by the orderly subalterns, I 
escaped the unpleasant office. 

General Evans, however, possibly might not really have 
been aware of the real state of the men, and I should be 
sorry to say that he did not care. He was very much 
of the i( recluse " at all times, and therefore insurmountable 
difficulties lay in the way of a man's getting a hearing from 
him ; consequently there was no hope for the poor fellows, 
save what might have been expected from the mercy of the 
Provost, or the whims of his judges, who may be said 
to have administered as many sentences as would have 
whipped every man in the Legion twice over, with the 
exception of hanging, which, in many instances, would 
have been preferable ; never were punishments carried to 
such an extent, nor authority so unlimited or arrogated by 
any men, as that usurped by the chief part of the officers 
of the British Auxiliaries. 

Meanwhile, however, the reports circulated in England 
that the men were starved for want of rations were un- 
founded, as the resources of the neighbourhood, and the 
fact of our being under the employ of the Spanish Govern- 
ment, opened even a better medium for supply than what 
formerly had been allotted to the British army under the 
Duke of Wellington. 

Here the hospitals were soon crammed with sick ; but 
the most cruel part of this was, a man was no sooner con- 
veyed to hospital, than the chief part of his clothing was 
taken from him, and given to men able to perform their 



234 ADVENTURES OF 

duty ; so that, if he happened to recover, he rejoined his 
regiment almost naked. From this cause he generally 
got a relapse, returned to hospital, and nothing more was 
heard of him. To give the reader some slight idea of the 
number of men who died through want and negligence, 
I will subjoin the names of Sergeants alone belonging to 
my own company (observing that I had the charge of what 
is termed the staff company). They are as follows: Ser- 
geant-Major Powley, Colour-Sergeant Smith, Pay- Sergeant 
Madicott, Sergeants Bushel, Watson, and Hornsby, and 
Armoury- Sergeant Bleakey. 

I remember one day, while sitting smoking a cigar at my 
quarters at Vittoria, the Colonel's wife rushed into the 
room, and throwing her arms around my neck in tears and 
in the most heart-rending tone, cried, " Mon Dieu ! mon 
Dieu !" and almost fainted. At this moment her husband, 
the old Colonel, entered, with looks and attitude baffling all 
description ; he approached near me, while his wife still 
hung on my neck, He stood silent and motionless ; at one 
moment despair depicted in his face, the next his eyes 
glistened with apparent transports of joy, although the 
tears rolled rapidly down his cheeks. I was transfixed to 
my chair (while the old lady still remained crying on my 
shoulder), wondering what could be the cause of this strange 
visit. But, with the reader's permission, I will unravel the 
mystery. Some time previously, the Chapelgorris — in 
which regiment the Colonel's two sons had volunteered — 
had taken a Carlist village, named La Bastide, and in 
driving the enemy out, a priest, who was flying with the 
Carlists, was shot. On the Chapelgorris returning to the 
village, they plundered the church, and drank wine out of 
the chalice. This was made known to the government of 
Madrid ; and it was falsely added, that the priest had been 
murdered in the church, with a view to spoliation. Espar- 
tero, the commander of this division, was accordingly 
written to, and censured for having suffered such an out- 
rage. 

The means he adopted to justify himself was cold, deli- 
berate butchery. Although at the time this supposed 
sacrilege was committed, Espartero called them his noble, 



A SOLDIER. 235 

brave Chapelgoris, on this day — the 12th of December — 
the bravest of Spanish soldiers, whose pride it was to fight 
by the side of the English, were doomed to have their 
laurels plucked from their brows, and that enthusiastic and 
loyal spirit broken for ever. The whole of the Chapel- 
gorris were marched a few miles on the Miranda road ; and, 
without the slightest notice of what was intended, they 
were ordered to ascend a rising ground. Here they found a 
large body of infantry and cavalry, which had preceded them 
from Yittoria, all drawn up, When they had ascended the 
hill, they were ordered to pile arms, and marched to some 
distance. The cavalry then rode between the Chapelgorris 
and their arms, when, for the first time, the poor fellows 
had some idea of what was intended. Espartero, who com- 
manded in person at this scene, then ordered lots to be 
cast, and every tenth man was set apart from the rest. 
These ten were shot in the presence of their unarmed com- 
rades. The Colonel's two sons were ever known to stand 
side by side in the ranks, but on this morning one of their 
comrades had taken his position between the two brothers, 
and this poor fellow, being the tenth man, fell by the ruth- 
less and murderous command of Espartero. When my old 
host, the Colonel, and his wife, heard of this providential 
escape of their sons, their joy occasioned the sudden 
entrance and extravagant conduct of the poor old Colonel 
and his lady, who came to impart the tidings to me, but 
were too overpowered by their feelings to give them utter- 
ance. " But the most horrid part of this butchery was," 
said the old veteran, who by this time was a little collected, 
" that the men were not despatched at one volley, but 
individually, four men firing at each victim, who was 
placed beside his dead comrades, until the tragic scene was 
finished." 

In the beginning of January, 1836, we left Vittoria, and 
marched to a small town on the main road to Salvaterra, 
called Matuca, about six miles distant. Here we remained 
several weeks, chiefly occupied in barricading our houses 
with loopholes, &c, and occasionally going out on the 
hills, opposite the castle of Guevara, a strongly fortified 
place, occupied by the Carlists. 



236 ADVENTURES OP 

The whole of the Legion having assembled at Matuca, 
we moved towards the heights of Arlaban, where, as Cor- 
dova was warmly engaged on our left ; we expected an 
encounter also, but after manoeuvring for the day, we en- 
camped on a bleak hill without firing a shot. The following 
evening we entered a village just quitted by the Carlists, 
where we remained for the night, using every precaution by 
barricading the doors and windows of all the houses we 
occupied. Meanwhile, from its being a Carlist village, our 
men thought it right to make free with whatever fell in 
their way. 

In the house in which I had taken up my billet, the 
owner was a remarkably pretty woman, with two children ; 
some of our men picking up a Carlist muster-roll, she con- 
fessed to me that her husband was a Captain in Don 
Carlos' s army, and had left her only a few nights before. 
The house was well stored with wine, and with every neces- 
sary comfort ; myself, and my two subalterns, fared most 
sumptuously, our hostess spreading the table with every 
delicacy the place afforded. She was a very intelligent 
woman, and spoke the French language fluently ; she 
placed herself under our protection to avoid the importuni- 
ties of the men, but everything else these last " gentlemen" 
could lay their hands upon they did. 

We returned to the hills on which we were stationed the 
day before : but we still heard firing on our left, and re- 
mained here till twelve o'clock at night. After the men 
had collected wood, and lighted large fires, and laid down 
beside them for the night (it was severely cold, with frost 
and snow, and a number of men without even watch- coats), 
to our surprise, about midnight, the " word" was silently 
passed to <f fall in" as quickly as possible, and make the 
best of our way from the camp-ground, as the Carlists were 
in great force around us. 

We quietly moved about a mile lower down, across a 
small river, where, as it was impossible to light fires, we 
remained, ankle-deep in snow, till the morning. This was 
one of the most distressing nights I ever experienced during 
my whole life. In the morning I felt alarmed for the safety 
of the Lieutenant of my company ; who, being a favourite 



A SOLDIER. 237 

of the Colonel's, was in the habit of remaining with him. 
On inquiry, the Colonel told me he had not seen him, and 
clasping his hands together, he exclaimed, " Good God ! 
he must be taken and assassinated by the Carlists." Fear- 
ing the truth of his supposition, I instantly started for the 
camp-ground we had left, with some of my company (such 
as were not frost-bitten by the inclemency of the night), 
and on my arriving near the camp, to my pleasing astonish- 
ment, I beheld Lieutenant Tottenham, my lost officer, 
with one or two others, who had not been disturbed by our 
silent retreat, but remained comfortably sleeping by the 
large fires the men had lighted, and most reluctantly 
left. 

All the honour gained by this Arlaban expedition, was 
about a dozen men, who happened to straggle from the 
regiments, most brutally butchered (by the Carlists) ; on 
one man in particular, whom Colonel de Rottenburg and 
myself had stripped, we counted no less than twenty-six 
stabs through his body ; and about half a dozen of my 
own company also were severely frost-bitten : indeed from 
our having no other conveyance, some of these men were 
obliged to be carried on the backs of their comrades, to 
save them from falling into the hands of the Carlists. Thus 
ended the celebrated Arlaban expedition. Certainly it is, 
Cordova did not cause all this by his imputed treachery 
and bad faith. 

We returned once more to Matuca, our old quarters. I 
could see the inhabitants did not regard us with the same 
eye as before we started ; but it was unjust to look scorn- 
fully on our poor fellows, who would have fought if they 
had had proper men to command them. 

In the beginning of February the chief part of the 
Legion left Matuca, and, marching to the right, took up 
their position in a mountain town called Trevina, about 
four leagues from Vittoria. This town is surrounded by 
bleak and barren mountains, which the Carlists a short 
time previous had quitted. The crowded state in which 
we were in here, caused the men to die by sections. Besides 
two large hospitals, which were filled, the sick were at last 
compelled to be sent to Vittoria, guarded by strong de- 



238 ADVENTURES OF 

tachments, as there were not sufficient places for their re- 
ception, and, to crown our misfortunes, during the greater 
part of our stay here, there was snow a foot deep. The 
men, although nearly barefoot, were constantly employed 
barricading the houses and streets in every part of the 
town, which a short time afterwards we left to the mercy of 
the enemy. 

The winter of 1 835 was one of the severest known in 
Spain for the last half century, as if the elements also 
contended against the unfortunate Legion. Here we were 
shorter, both in money and rations, than at any other 
place since our arrival in the country* We remained about 
three weeks, and then retraced our steps to Vittoria ; the 
men completely harassed by fortifying the place, that after 
all turned out to be of no use to us. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Return to Vittoria — The mortality and state of the hospitals — Deaths among the 
medical officers — Scenes in the wards — Legion supposed to be poisoned — Don 
Jose Elgoez — His first ordeal — A discovery — Execution of the two bakers — 
Description of the " Garotta" — Legion march and counter-marches — Mode of 
warfare adopted by General Evans — Frequent desertion. 

At our return, the fever still continued to rage most 
fearfully, and Vittoria resembled a city infected with the 
plague. The scenes in the hospital were truly appalling. 
The wards were so crowded, that suffocation must have 
been inevitable, but for the inclement season ; which had 
free access through the wards, from the entire want of 
window-sashes, and in many instances doors, most of which 
had been destroyed by the monks — the former and forcibly 
ejected occupants. But this prevention of one evil only 
gave rise to another equally calamitous ; as scarcely a 
patient escaped being frost-bitten. There was also a total 
absence of bedding of any kind, or even bedstead, and many 
a poor fellow, in the height of fever, was forced to content 
himself with loose straw, and nothing to cover him but a 
great coat or a rug ; hence the scenes in the wards became 
disgusting in the extreme. 



A SOLDIER. 239 

At length the medical men themselves began to feel the 
pestilence, and the casualties among them so reduced their 
number (for the most attentive suffered first) that the re- 
quisite attendance could not be given, and death strode 
amongst the sick unchecked. The delirious, the dying, 
and the dead, were all indiscriminately huddled together, 
and sometimes mixed up with their groans, might be heard 
the cries of some poor fellow undergoing a course, not of 
medicine, but of cat-o' -nine-tails, which in many instances 
were resorted to by the medical gentlemen to beat out what 
they could not cure. Many and many a sick soldier 
has been accused of skulking, while his thin, cadaverous, 
wan, fevered countenance alone has dared to belie the 
charge, made by his tyrants. But happily this was not 
general. 

I remember going one day to the hospital to see my 
servant, a worthy, honest Yorkshireman, named Jackscn, 
who at this time was also suffering under the dreadful 
malady. I had to pass through several wards before I 
arrived at that in which he was ; such a sight I never wit- 
nessed before. The raving maniac, in all the degrees of 
delirium, made the room ring again, and effectually with- 
stood any attempt on the part of the sick only, to keep 
them from annoying the sleeping. 

I particularly noticed one, a segeant-major, sitting up- 
right on the mattress. He was haggard and worn to a 
skeleton, with a beard of at least three weeks' growth. 
The wild and unsettled glance of his eye told at once, that 
the old soldier was delirious : his mind, however, was 
actively at work, and he was drilling an imaginary regi- 
ment, in the most pressing yet deliberate manner. I stood 
to listen to him. At length he was interrupted by a 
brother sufferer in an adjoining pallet. In an instant he 
summoned an hospital orderly and in the same imperative 
tone, bade him go immediately and bring the Provost, that 
he might inflict summary punishment on the delinquent, 
who had thus dared to commit such a breach of discipline, 
as to interrupt him in the performance of his duty. The 
orderly was actually on the point of obeying his orders, 



240 ADVENTURES OF 

when I informed him his patient was not in his right 
senses. 

The sergeant seemed a veteran, who had seen service ; 
and from the manner in which he had delivered his word 
of command, was no doubt well qualified to put a regiment 
through its manoeuvres. 

The mortality amongst the troops increased to a fright- 
ful extent in some regiments, as many as a dozen or fifteen 
dying of a day, and the duty of attending the dead to their 
last home became so fatiguing that it was at last done away 
with altogether. The bodies were carried from the hos- 
pitals in cart-loads. The surgeons staggered through 
sickness and laboured under a want of medicines. At 
length it was whispered about that the bread had been 
poisoned ; finally the report became so loud, as to cause 
one general thrill of horror, and immediate steps were taken 
to discover the agents in so fiendish an affair. 

At length private information having been given to the 
paymaster of the 7th regiment of the Legion he disguised 
himself, and went about making observations, which re- 
sulted in his taking prisoners some agents of Don Carlos, 
in the act of persuading our men to desertion ; a woman 
also was amongst them, whose very pretty person was 
made use of to decoy them off our boundaries to the enemy ; 
and it was further said, a conspiracy was traced to the house 
of a baker and his assistant, who up to this time had sup- 
plied the Legion with ration bread. 

At all events, on the day in question, this pair of demons 
had already gone through an ordeal, sufficient to cure even 
Carlos of his villanies. Some of the Spanish troops for 
want of immediate rations applied to our commissariat, and 
having obtained permission to take their bread from our 
stores, they had received several hundreds of rations. In 
the course of the day, however, a number of their men 
were taken very ill, and many, even to sixty in number, 
it was reported, had died. Whether these deaths be true 
or not I cannot say, but the cause of their sudden illness 
was traced to Don Jose Elgoez, who was instantly brought 
bound to the Plaza and a piece of black bread, slung on a 



A SOLDIER. 241 

bit of string, being tied round bis neck, tbe men commenced 
their retaliation. 

Eigbt or ten of tbe strongest men in the battalion, each, 
armed with a long staff, were selected, and severally beat 
him over tbe back and shoulders, until the culprit dropped 
powerless and senseless on the ground. He was imme- 
diately taken from the scene to prepare for a second ordeal 
of a more awful character, as his assistant and himself 
were tried and sentenced to be strangled on the charge of 
having been in communication with the enemy, &c. 
During the interval that elapsed between the sentence 
and execution, great efforts were made by his fellow 
partizans to get him off. As much as thirty thousand 
dollars were offered as a ransom, but all his friends 
could do was unavailing, and the execution of both 
men took place in the space outside the new Plaza of Yit- 
toria, before thousands of Spaniards, and the assembled 
Legion. 

They were executed after the Spanish custom by the 
garotta. This appeared to me to be a much better mode 
of fulfilling the last sentence of law, than hanging or the 
guillotine, and not so disgusting. It was performed as 
follows : a platform was erected, about three feet high, in 
the centre of which two upright posts were fixed, with a 
seat in each, sufficiently elevated for the culprits to sit 
upon. To either post an iron collar was fitted, made so as 
to be opened or compressed on one side of the post, by a 
winch and screw on the opposite. 

The fronts in which their necks were placed were so 
formed, as, by the relaxing or tightening of the screws, to 
cause a lingering or instantaneous death, I should say, as 
the sentence might dictate. As soon, however, as the 
executioner gave the first twist, he rather triumphantly 
bellowed out, " Viva !" and then finished the principal, 
who died in a more lingering manner than his second or as- 
sistant. Despite the gravity of the melancholy spectacle, 
I could not but listen with surprise to the attendant priests, 
who doubtless were Carlists, exhorting the departing spirits 
of the pair of prisoners, with the words : " Monta a el 

R 



242 ADVENTURES OF 

ciel ! Monta a el cielo I" Go up to Heaven ! Go up to 
Heaven !* 

Shortly after this our brigade was occasionally sent out 
to the adjoining villages, for the benefit of the air, and also 
to prevent the enemy from laying close siege to the town. 
Indeed, so daring were they, that they frequently at night 
would come even to the gates of the city, and fire at the 
first party they saw. This made our mode of warfare 
different to that to which I had been accustomed to during 
my former campaigns. Our present plan was to occupy 
the villages and houses in front of the enemy, and fortify 
them with loop-holes and barricades, to obviate the neces- 
sity of exposing our men to the attacks of an enemy rather 
more blood-thirsty than the gallant spirits under Soult and 
his predecessors. 

This was a prudent step in General Evans, as the Carlists 
we found followed up their practice of stealing on us, under 
cover of the darkness, and sometimes under the fogs, 
which were very frequent, and so firing on our men. 
While on this out-post duty desertions became very fre- 
quent, which may be attributed to the offer of seven dollars 
to every foot-soldier, and twelve dollars to every horseman, 
who would go over, with arms and accoutrements, to Don 
Carlos. Amongst the number induced to accept those 
terms was a piper, well known as " Little Jemmy," of the 
6 th Scotch, whose Highland costume and uncouth music 
at all times attracted a crowd of children about him. 
While on picquet we could hear Little Jemmy, on the 
Carlist outpost, playing " Over the waters to Charlie ;" 

* I feel bound, before quitting the subject, to declare it as my opinion that 
the bread was not actually poisoned 5 the materials of which it was made, no 
doubt, were of the worst description, of which the colour, which was of the 
most disheartening black, gave every proof ; when two days old it would be as hard 
almost as wood, and in another similar lapse of time, it would mildew, and become 
green as old copper. The men, however, who were not taken ill, always fed upon 
it, from necessity; while most of the officers, who were served with good white 
bread (but at a less ration), were equally attacked by the sickness. The baker, 
therefore, in this respect, did no more than what our own contractors would 
have done, and which the abominable quality of almost everything sent us went 
to testify. That he conspired to favour Don Carlos's cause I have no doubt, and 
the punishment was necessary, and a wholesome one. 



A SOLDIER. 243 

Jemmy's music proved attractive, too, for numbers followed 
him, and with them a bugler of the Rifles. This fellow, 
for the same ends, also used regularly to sound the wine- 
call three times a day, as a contrast to our own, which was 
but once during the same period. Letters also were found 
at our advanced posts, written in English, and promising a 
return to England, through France, to those Who would 
leave the ranks of the "foreign invaders," (as they termed 
us). These persuasive offers were in too many instances 
successful. 

Soon after, our brigade was removed to a small village, 
some short distance from Vittoria, near the main road, 
where I remember the French had made a gallant stand 
against the Light and third divisions. It was not unfrequent, 
during the hours of drill, to notice, here and there, bleached 
skulls scattered about, melancholy evidences of the sanguinary 
rencontre. I have often unconsciously watched, lest some 
clumsy fellow should disturb those weather-beaten relics ; 
and turned to the olden scenes when, perhaps, their very 
owners fought beside me in many a bloody field, or helped 
to while away the moments by a camp fire with some 
humorous recital. 

On one of these occasions our Bugle-Major, named 
M'Kay, and formerly a corporal in my own battalion, in 
which he had served during the whole of the Peninsular 
war, picked up one of the skulls and holding it in his hand 
whilst he closely and anxiously examined it, coolly turned 
to me, saying : " About this spot, Sir, we had several of our 
company killed, and amongst them my own comrade — poor 
Allan Cummings ! He fell somewhere hereabout — who 
knows but what this may be his head."* The old soldier's 
countenance spoke volumes, and he paused for several 
minutes, as if in earnest converse with the relic ; at last he 
muttered out again, " Well, well ! it matters little with 
the dead ; but what remains of you, if this be yours, Allan, 
shall be made a foot-ball no longer !" saying which he 
nodded to one of the buglers, and both, with their swords 

* There were seven brothers of the Cummings in our first battalion Rifle 
Brigade ; the above Allan was sergeant in the band, and was killed at Vittoria 
21st June, 1613. 

R 2 



244 ADVENTURES OF 

commenced digging a hole, in which they deposited the 
supposed remains of his old comrade. 

JVrKay little dreamt how soon his own and a similar fate 
awaited him, for he himself was shot some short time after, 
at Andoun ; and singular to relate, one ball struck the 
Waterloo medal on his breast, and was immediately 
followed by a second, which finished his career altogether. 
Poor fellow ! it was through my persuasion that he joined 
the Legion, he being at the time a Chelsea Pensioner. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Sudden and unjust dismissal of the officers— Copies from General Orders — 
Spanish compliments to the French and British Legions— Cordova between 
two fires — Some French officers resign — Difference betwixt the British and 
French Legion — Parting moments between a French Colonel and his men — 
Legion receive orders to proceed to San Sebastian — The sick left behind to 
guard the sick — March through the country to Santander — Arrival at the 
Convent of Carbon — New clothing — Recruits, &c. — My opinion of the 
Legion. 

During our stay in and about Vittoria, a practice pre- 
vailed of dismissing officers without granting them the 
right of either a court-martial or a court of inquiry, and in 
some instances on the mere assertion of the commanding 
officer, and not unfrequently through the silent medium of 
the Brigadiers. In the Rifles alone, during the above 
period, there were not less than one captain (Lomax), two 
lieutenants (O'Brien and Villars), and one assistant sur- 
geon (Greenwood), dismissed the service under these cir- 
cumstances. This, whoever it originated from, was exces- 
sively cruel, and was particularly aggravated by the 
General Orders of the time, notifying that all officers who 
had resigned their commissions, or who had been dismissed 
from their regiments, or departments, were not entitled to 
receive rations after their resignations or removals had been 
notified in General Orders. Passages to England in 
vessels employed for the service of the British Auxiliary 
Legion were not to be allowed to such officers, unless 
directions had been received from head-quarters to that 
effect . To crown the whole, Colonel Arbuthnot (brother- 



A SOLDIER. 245 

in-law fo General Evans), affixed a paper at the portals of 
his own door, to the effect that officers anxious to return to 
England might have a free passage, provided they signed a 
document, prior to going on board, relinquishing all future 
claims on the Spanish Government. 

These tyrannical proceedings, as might be expected, had 
a most lamentable effect on the officers of the Legion ; 
placed as it were between two extremes, the loss of pay and 
rations, as well as the most cruel despotism of their superior 
officers, the most daring schemes were consequently pro- 
jected, and officers as well as men went over to the Car lists. 
This may not be unaptly illustrated by the following 
relation, which I received within a few days of our quitting 
Vittoria for San Sebastian. 

Passing one day through the Plaza, accompanied by my 
old friend the Spanish Colonel, we observed a number of 
Carlist prisoners brought in by some of our English 
Lancers ; they had expected death in retaliation for their 
cruelty on our men, and were profuse in expressions of 
gratitude for the very different treatment they had experi- 
enced at the hands of the British. One in particular my 
old friend seemed to bear some recollection of, and entered 
into a very interesting conversation on the accidents of the 
contending parties. He was a cadet of the Guards of 
Alava, one of the smartest regiments in the Carlist service. 
and appeared to be an exceedingly intelligent young fellow, 
and well versed in English and French. After some chat 
with the Colonel, he addressed me, saying with what I 
thought rather a satirical smirk on his countenance, " You 
may remember an officer of yours deserting to us during 
the stay of the Legion about Trevina." I said I had some 
recollection of a Lieutenant of the 1st regiment, named 
Wilkinson, who did leave us at the period mentioned. 
"Then," continued he, " I was the first person whom he 
met with after crossing our lines, and who caused his intro- 
duction to Muralo, prime minister of Don Carlos, to whom 
he related the cause of his desertion, the circumstance of 
his having been dismissed the Legion, without a court- 
martial, or any court of inquiry being allowed him to justify 
himself; and there and then proposed a scheme to seize on 



246 ADVENTURES OF 

the person of General Evans, on the road between Trevina 
and Vittoria, which he was in the habit of passing with a 
very small escort. e I will/ said he, ' if allowed twenty 
dragoons, at the hazard of my own life, bring in my late 
General dead or alive/ The simple and earnest manner of 
your officer took great effect on Muralo, who seemed 
inclined to the proposed scheme, and the English officer 
was dismissed, with orders to attend the next day ; the 
Minister observing, as we left the room, he must not take 
the life of the General, but bring him alive if possible. 

"The day following, at the time appointed, your officer, 
who never seemed to lose sight of his object, again attended 
on the Minister, and pressed his plan of revenge. He was 
questioned on the number and state of the Legion, and the 
character of its chief. ' Pray, Sir/ asked Muralo, f what 
opinion is General Evans held in, in England ?' ' Why, Sir/ 
he replied, ( as to that, he bears the character of most 
British officers — great courage and personal daring ; but 
as he never commanded a company in action, he is thought 
incapable of conducting any great enterprise/ ' They tell 
me/ continued the Minister, f that your Legion is dying 
by companies, through negligence and cruel treatment / 
and with this your officer was dismissed to attend the next 
day for instructions. The following morning, however, was 
designed to crush all the deserter's hopes, as the affair 
changed altogether. ' We have considered the affair over 
again/ said Muralo, c and have resolved not to act in it. 
The Queen Regent of Spain can afford to lose five men to 
our one, and from the accounts of the proceedings of this 
General of yours, they will be of more service to us than a 
victory ; and I fear were he supplanted, some more efficient 
officer might be put in his stead. Besides, if the English 
press accounts be correct, his Excellency appears to be 
a man too honest to be suspected, and too incapable to act 
conclusively. ' This/ said the cadet, as I thought smilingly, 
'was related the next day to the King, who laughed 
heartily at the sagacity of his minister/ " 

On our return to Vittoria, and when on the point of 
leaving, the inhabitants gave a grand ball to the officers of 
the Legion ; and a piece, entitled " Pes Circonstances/' 



A SOLDIER. 247 

was got up at the theatre ; at the same time, in honour 
of the English, another, entitled " Charles the First," in 
which that monarch was made a second Don Carlos, and 
the English who dethroned and beheaded him, were com- 
pared to the noble Spaniards then fighting against the 
tyranny of the Spanish Charles. 

While the French Legion were at Vittoria, they also 
were honoured with a f&e; the piece selected to flatter 
their national pride was a spectacle representing the life of 
Napoleon, from his first campaign in Italy to his death. 
But the part he acted in Spain was entirely omitted. Yet 
Sir Hudson Lowe was not forgotten, nor were allusions 
wanting to the cruel conduct of the British Government 
towards the Man of the Bock. 

I could not help contrasting the healthy and spirited 
appearance of the French soldiers to that of the unfortunate 
English. But the privations the latter had endured, and 
still were suffering, through neglect, and the continued 
lash of those in command of them, actually had pinched 
out that noble spirit which I ever found the British soldier 
to possess. Indeed, I have wondered since that the slightest 
subordination was kept, under the system of cruelty pur- 
sued towards them. Any, or the least dereliction of duty, 
even the forgetting to touch the hat to a passing officer, 
was commonly followed by the cats; while the distant 
bearing of most of the commanding officers prevented the 
soldiers' complaints being heard : the total disregard also 
of the latter to the billets and personal comforts of their 
men — and in many cases, tyrannical ejections from quarters, 
where they interfered in the least with those petty despots, 
had totally alienated the man from the officer. 

But with the " Foreign Legion," composed, as it was, of 
men of all nations, everything went pleasantly, and officers 
and men were so alive to each other's welfare, that it 
extended its secret services even to the unfortunate British 
Auxiliaries. Many and many were the instances in which 
the miserable Legionite, stretched in liquor on the street, 
has been dragged by them to concealment, to screen him 
from the lash of the Provost. In truth, this sympathy was 



248 ADVENTURES OF 

found among the Spaniards, also, who constantly witnessing 
the cruelty, had become quite alive to the risk the delin- 
quents daily incurred. 

A day or two following that on which Cordova withdrew 
from the positions about Arlaban, and from between the 
British and Foreign Legion, who were posted to the right 
and left of the Spaniards, an occurrence took place which 
will illustrate the sympathy that existed between the 
officers of the French Legion and their soldiers. It will be 
remembered, that in consequence of the above movement, 
many officers of the French resigned, and Cordova, for the 
first time, was stigmatised as a traitor. The two Legions 
withdrew from their advance posts, and a recrimination 
followed between the Foreign and Spanish Generals. - 

At about twelve o'clock in the day, a crowd of French 
soldiers had collected around the doorway of the house 
next to that in which I was billeted. Being able to speak 
French, I inquired the cause of the assemblage, when I was 
informed that some French Colonel had resigned, and was 
going back to France, and the men had come to bid him 
farewell. In a short time the Colonel, who seemed to be 
an elderly man, made his appearance, and the air resounded 
with acclamations. The old soldiers flocked around him, 
and a thousand eyes watched his every look ; many strove 
to get forward to shake hands with him, and several did ; 
the veteran seemed much affected. After a little desultory 
conversation with one and the other, he, at length, made a 
move to depart, saying, as he waved his hand, " Adieu, 
mes enfants — soyez heureux," &c, which latter words I 
almost lost in the farewells that followed from the soldiers : 
"Adieu, mon Colonel !" said some, "Adieu, notre pere!" 
exclaimed others, and indeed, every one seemed to have 
some expression of regret suited to the kindness received by 
them. 

The old man could scarcely suppress his emotion, but 
turning aside, passed his fore-finger and thumb across his 
eyes to check the anguish that visibly filled them ; suddenly 
he turned his horse's head up the road, and after clearing 
the crowd, galloped off towards the gates. In a moment all 



A SOLDIER. 249 

was gloom, and the soldiers stood watching his retiring 
form as it swiftly disappeared in the length and turning of 
the streets, and then in gentle murmurings retired to their 
quarters. 

How different were ours ! Few of those in command 
deserved so much, and none I believe, ever experienced 
such a parting expression of true soldierly sentiment. 

In the beginning of April, 1836, the British Legion 
received orders to leave Yittoria, and proceed towards San 
Sebastian. As it was rumoured that the Carlists were 
laying close siege to that fortress, the whole marched 
with the exception of the 2nd Lancers. Our invalids, how- 
ever, formed what is called a provisional battalion, and 
the unfortunates in hospital were left behind under their 
protection, who, actually were incapable of taking care of 
themselves. 

At length we reached our destination (Santander), and 
finally occupied the convent of Corbon, distant about four 
miles from that town. This place having been a kind 
of depot for the Legion during our stay in the interior, we 
were joined here by a second batch of recruits from 
England, and the chief part of the Rifles received new great- 
coats, shirts, shoes, and other necessaries, which they 
stood much in need of. It was astonishing to behold the 
change made in the exterior of the battalion by this addition 
to their comforts. The men, for the first time, exhibited 
a military appearance, which, to a soldier's eye was very 
prepossessing. They were a fine set of fellows, and were 
now ripe and ready for any duty, and only wanted efficient 
men at their head. 



250 ADVENTURES OF 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Embark for San Sebastian — A thirty-two-pounder, and no mistake — A bloody 
force — Brains where they were wanted, unfortunately — A prize — Arrival at San 

[ Sebastian — Anticipated attack— Colonel de Rottenberg taken ill — Major For- 
tescue — Opinions — His maiden speech — Two companies broke up the others of 
the regiment — 5th of May — Attack on the lines of San Sebastian — A hullabaloo 
— 6th Scotch taken for enemies — Helter-skelter — I receive a severe wound — Am 
carried into San Sebastian — My letter to my wife. 

On the 21st of April, about six in the evening, four 
companies of the Rifles were shipped on board an English 
steamer, under the command of Commodore Henry, with 
orders to convey us to San Sebastian. I was enjoying 
a comfortable sleep about six o'clock the following morning, 
when I was awoke by the thundering rattle of a thirty- two- 
pounder. This rather electrified me ; and, on jumping 
on deck, I found the vessel had laid-to about half a mile 
from the shore — the jolly-boat lowered and manned with 
soldiers and sailors, and in full pull after two of the 
enemy's fishing- boats, which, with a few soldiers on board 
of them, were smartly exchanging shots with ours. The 
report of the firing, however, attracted the attention of a 
picquet of theirs, stationed near the water's edge, who 
immediately threw themselves amongst the rocks, and 
covered the landing of their comrades, while the Commo- 
dore kept blazing away at them with his thirty- two's. The 
Carlists, jumping on land, and deserting their boats, made 
up the rocks to join their comrades ; our fellows, in the 
meanwhile, rowing after them till within point-blank reach 
of the picquet, who instantly began a most spirited retalia- 
tion. 

In the midst of this a Captain N , of the Rifles, 

formerly a Pedroite, who had volunteered for the enter- 
prise, suddenly disappeared under the seats of the boat in 
search of shelter, whilst the men, of their own accord, 
gallantly returned the fire. They succeeded in bringing 
away the two boats, but not before we had lost two men ; 
one sailor, and a soldier, a man of my own company, 
named Macnamara, who was shot through the head, and 



A SOLDIER. 251 

fell at full length on the prostrate body of the terrified 
Captain, and literally drenched him with blood and brains. 
Thus ended the silly adventure, at the sacrifice of two lives. 
The boats not being worth twenty shillings, were instantly 
scuttled, and the two men being dropped overboard, the 
steamer continued its way. About four in the afternoon 
we entered the Bay of San Sebastian, amidst the whistling 
shots of the enemy, who were firing upon us from the hills 
surrounding the harbour ; but their distance from us pre- 
cluded the possibility of much danger. 

In San Sebastian, for the first time, our men were com- 
fortably quartered. But our besiegers, who from appear- 
ances, were very numerous, gave us every reason to expect 
a regular brush. They were very strongly entrenched on 
the opposite hills, and held complete command of the bay. 

At this period, I am sorry to state, our Colonel, Baron de 
Rottenberg, fell sick, and obtained leave of absence ; the 
command of the battalion devolved of course, on the Major, 
the next in seniority, named Fortescue. 

This was rather an unfortunate promotion, both for the 
gentleman and the regiment, as it placed the former in no 
enviable situation, a few days after ; indeed, it was a mad 
idea to expect that a young man, who had been but a short 
period a Lieutenant in the 4th British Foot, could be pro- 
perly intrusted with the lives of four or fixe hundred men 
at his discretion ; when in action, from what I myself had 
observed, he was not capable of telling off a company. 
Baron de Rottenberg, however, who is now serving on the 
British Staff in America, formerly commanded the Light 
Company of the 81st regiment, and was one of the most 
efficient and best disciplined officers I ever witnessed. In 
fact, as the Colonel informed me, his father General de 
Rottenberg, was the originator of the rifle exercise. 

On the 4th May, at evening parade, the Rifles were 
assembled on the Plaza, and the regiment being formed 
into square, facing inwards, our new Commander, Major 
Fortescue thus addressed us : 

" Rifles ! to-morrow, we are to be engaged with the 
enemy : they show no quarter — neither shall we — skewer 
every man of them — take no prisoners — skewer every 



252 ADVENTURES OF 

you meet!" Meanwhile the Major imitated a 



charge with a stick he held in his hand, the men staring 
with surprise both at him and the order. "Now," said he, 
taking off his cap, "let us have three cheers, my lads, 5 ' 
and commencing the uproar, the men joined, and the whole 
Plaza rung again. 

This was his maiden speech, and I leave it to the reader 
to judge of its effects, both on officer and man ; indeed, on 
marching to the private parade ground, I inquired of the 
Major if he had received the order from the General. 
" No !" he replied, rather sharply, " I have not ; but you 
know, Costello, it will be only tit for tat." 

Being satisfied of this, I took the opportunity when 
halting the men, to undo what he had so earnestly wished 
to impress, by telling them, that the order they had just 
received to butcher every enemy we met, was not issued by 
General Evans, and that they came to Spain to be soldiers, 
not butchers. However blood-thirsty the enemy, we as 
British soldiers were bound to set a very different example, 
and to treat with less rigour those who might fall into our 
hands. I then requested my two lieutenants to use their 
exertions, and see that the men gave quarter. 

About twelve o'clock the next night, the Legion prepared 
themselves for the test, and the inhabitants of the town 
were all alive for the forthcoming effort. Prior to our 
marching, General Beid who commanded our brigade, 
broke up two of our companies, as he thought the officers 
in command of them incompetent, and distributed the men 
amongst the battalion, thus forming the regiment into four 
companies, each from eighty to ninety strong. 

About three in the morning we slowly moved through 
the gates towards the enemy's lines, which were not more 
than three-quarters of a mile distant. The Bines were 
on the extreme left of the Legion, and our battalion 
marched left in front, so that my company brought up 
the rear. 

The morning was very dull and heavy, being ushered in 
by a kind of Scotch mist. The men, however, were in 
great spirits, and seemed determined to prove themselves 
worthy of their British name : my confidence in them was 



A SOLDIER. 253 

such, that I almost imagined myself in the midst of 
my old comrades, and panted like an old hunter for the 
course. 

In a few minutes we commenced ascending the hills, 
when the enemy opened a brisk fire on us, thus showing 
they were not to be caught napping ; and now the well- 
known sound — the whistling balls passed over my head — 
that music at one time so familiar to my ears, that I have 
often been obliged to breakfast, dine, and sup upon its 
harmony ; this brought my younger days to recollection, 
as if I had recoiled twenty years ; the Rifles, however, 
took possession of their first lines, without firing a shot or 
losing a man. 

Meanwhile, we could hear a very smart firing on our 
right, where the 7th, 9th, and 10th regiments were hotly 
engaged ; however, as the morning cleared, and the 
Carlists discovered where we were, they began to play very 
warmly amongst us. The more the shots flew, the greater 
confusion among the officers, for each imagining his tactics 
better than his neighbour, assumed the command (espe- 
cially the Pedroites). This was further encouraged by 
"certain drops" which the rawness of the morning, and 
the " business in hand," had influenced them to sip rather 
plentifully, while waiting in the Plaza. 

In this hullabaloo, Lieutenant Macintosh of our regi- 
ment, then aide-de-camp to General Reid coming up 
restored some little order, and actually took command 
of the regiment, ordering us to march down a lane, a little 
to our right, where he placed the battalion behind a bank, 
opposite a Carlist breast-work ; here we formed right in 
front — the enemy at this time appearing not more than 
four or five hundred yards off. We had scarcely formed 
and got into order, when our commanding officer, Major 
Fortescue, cried out, " No. 1 Company, quick march I" 

The men instantly scrambled forward over the bank, 
that partially covered them ; seeing this, I requested he 
would allow me to take command of my company, tell me 
what to do, and it should be complied with. But the Major 
was too brave a soldier himself, to allow me that honour, 
and replied only with the word, * ( Make ready, present 



254 ADVENTURES OP 

fire !" and fire they did, and did some mischief too, for by 
the Major bringing np their left shonlders more than he 
should have done, they fired a volley into the 6th Scotch, 
who were some distance on our right front, and badly 
wounded fifteen or sixteen of their men ;* this done he 
instantly ordered the men to fall back behind the bank and 
reload, (no doubt to give a second dose) when I again 
requested to be allowed to take the command of my com- 
pany, remarking that riflemen never fired by companies, but 
independently and in extended order. I also pointed out 
to him, his error in firing on the 6th, on which he answered, 
" You may take them where you like/' 

This was all I required, and when the men had finished 
loading, I gave the word " right face," and bringing them 
into the lane before-mentioned, we moved in the direction 
of the 6th who were busily at work. As we approached 
nearer to the scene of action, one or two of my men being 
wounded, I took one of their rifles and ten rounds of 
ammunition, and placing the men under cover, I inquired 
if they would follow me and undertake to storm a redoubt 
opposite? all quickly answered, "We will, Sir." I begged 
them to be cool, and not to fire until they closed upon the 
breast-work, and then get under cover as soon as possible, 
extending from the centre ; off we started, at double time, 
towards their second line of entrenchments. 

I had to pass close to the 6th. Hearing a cheer in my 
rear, I turned and beheld the remainder of the Rifles in 
close column. The indefatigable Fortescue in front, 
twirling a large stick over his head, cheering and charging. 
At this moment, noticing a deep ravine on the left, I 
cried out to the men to bring up their left shoulders, and 
close to the right, so as to avoid it ; but before this could 
be accomplished, the Major and his men got intermixed 
with the 6th. Here the confusion increased, helter-skelter, 
pell-mell, as the balls began to tell fearfully among us, 
while the enemy seeing our confusion, plied them to advan- 
tage, and to mend the matter, part of my company also 
became intermixed with the remainder of the battalion ; 

* This I was informed by the surgeon who dressed them afterwards. 



A SOLDIER. 255 

endeavouring to get them into something like order, two 
balls struck me at the same moment, one grazing the skin 
of my left thigh, and the other entering under the right 
knee joint, passing downward through the ham, and out at 
the calf of the leg. 

The brave fellows of my company stuck to me gallantly, 
and the instant I fell flew to my assistance and bore me to 
the rear. I was carried back to the lane, whence we 
started, and on my leg being dressed, I discovered that the 
ball had entered an old wound made by a French bullet at 
the action of Almeida, July 24th, 1810. But it had come 
out in a different direction. I was next placed on a 
stretcher and conveyed to my old quarters at San Sebastian. 
As the men were carrying me down the hill towards 
the town, I observed two steamers in full play, throwing 
shells into the Carlist redoubts. These mainly contributed 
to the success of the morning, by the skilful manner in 
which they directed their shells into the enemy's works. 
When a little recovered from the loss of blood, after my 
arrival at my quarters, I wrote the following letter to my 
wife, which in some degree may serve to show my feelings 
and opinions at the time the action was fought : 

" San Sebastian, May 5, 1836. 

" My dear Charlotte, 

" I dare say by the time you receive this letter, the 
streets of London will be crowded with fellows bellowing 
out, ' The unfortunate Legion is killed to a man, and poor 
Costello is no more. 9 But if you have not purchased the 
widow's weeds, I request you will not do so, as I am not 
yet half killed ; certainly I have an extra ball through my 
old trunk : and this I should have escaped had I not ex- 
posed myself, perhaps rather unnecessarily, in endeavouring 
to keep the brave fellows of my company in something like 
military order. 

" All were commanders, from the Second Lieutenant to 
the Major. It appeared to me, in truth, the Legion is not 
a school for the young soldier to acquire knowledge, nor 
the old to get credit. How different, indeed, were things 
carried on in the British Army : there, in the very height 



256 ADVENTURES OF 

of the most desperate conflict, all was cool and collected, 
and every officer's word could be distinctly heard, at the 
slightest cessation of firing. 

" The officer who commanded our regiment to-day is a 
smart young fellow, and might be of some service in a 
country fair in Ireland, with a good shilelah ; but to com- 
mand {"our or five hundred men irr action with fire-arms, 
against a hardy race of mountaineers well disciplined, is 
quite a different thing. I cannot say how many of our 
regiment were killed, as I was reluctantly compelled to leave 
them, by a ball passing through my right knee, yet I hope 
I shall not lose my limb. My kindest love to our dear 
children ; but do not think the worst, my dear Charlotte,— 
you shall soon again hear from me. 

" Affectionately yours, 

"E. COSTELLO, 

" Mrs. Costello, 29, Hinden Street, 
Vauxhall Road, London." 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

The loss of my company in the late action — Apprehensions about my leg — Medal 
and pewter — A candidate for Knighthood — Captain Plunkett — His death, &c. 
— A Rifleman assassinated — Fire eaters — Sketch of San Sebastian — Lord John 
Hay's battery — Ramble towards Passages — Something serious—Awkward 
squads — Singular decline of Spanish Bigotry — A Sectarian alarmed. 

I had scarcely finished writing my letter, when word 
came that the Legion had taken possession of the enemy's 
works, and compelled the Carlists to retire. The loss sus- 
tained by my company in the action, was one sergeant, one 
corporal, and six privates wounded. As soon as the news 
was made known, the bells were set ringing, and the guns 
fired from the castle and walls in honour of the victory ; at 
night the town was illuminated, with ether demonstrations 
of joy by the inhabitants. 

For several days I felt great apprehension about my leg, 
as it had swollen to almost double its natural size, and had 
changed to a livid colour, while the nails of the toes fell off. 
I was now on the eve of fifty, and although in excellent 



A SOLDIER. 257 

spirits, doubted my constitution being strong enough to 
undergo amputation. But from evil we sometimes derive 
good ; it proved so in my case. This being my sixth con- 
finement through gun-shot wounds, I had acquired some 
skill in the art of healing. My doctor, I found, knew but 
little in such cases : his theory was obliged to give way to 
my experience ; and as the knowledge of a disease is half 
its cure, I practised on myself. By this means, and strict 
attention to diet, &c, I was enabled, in the short space of 
two months, not only to leave my bed, but move about 
on crutches. 

The doctor, while dressing me one morning, told me to 
keep as quiet as possible, as the nature of my wound 
required care, the ball passing near the main artery ; that 
if anything like a hemorrhage took place, I was instantly 
to send to hirn. Some few nights after this, when turning 
to reach a glass of water from the table near the bedside, 
I felt a gush from the wound in that part where the ball 
had passed. At first I took no notice, but feeling some- 
thing warmer than usual in my bed, I gently raised my 
head, and throwing the clothes aside, I saw by the lamp 
that I was saturated with blood. 

I knew from my former campaigns, as well as the hint 
given by the doctor, that if the artery was not instantly tied, 
I must bleed to death. It was now about two in the 
morning, not a creature near me, my servant sleeping in 
the lower part of the house ; to attempt to rise and leave 
my room to call assistance, such exertion would cause the 
blood to flow more copiously ; to remain still, I must expect 
nothing but death in a few minutes. What was I to do ? 
— placing my thumb firmly on the hole to stop the blood, 
while with the other hand I struck the table, and called 
lustily for assistance, but to no purpose, as no one heard 
me ; my fate seemed inevitable if the hemorrhage con- 
tinued. In this state of suspense I remained for some 
time ; by degrees a film came over my sight ; I felt the 
vital part of my system so low, and nature became so 
exhausted, that my head fell on the pillow, and all sense 
left me. How long I remained in this state I know not, 
but on coming round again, the morning dawn had just 

s 



258 ADVENTURES OF 

appeared, that gave sufficient light to enable me to see my 
situation. To my great joy the bleeding had ceased, 
except by drops. Still afraid to use exertion I remained 
quiet, the thumb still pressed on the wound ; however, I 
did not remain long in this misery : hearing some one 
moving along the passage, I called out, when the old 
patrone made her appearance, and on seeing me covered 
with blood, rushed out screaming that the Captain had 
cut his throat, which aroused the whole house, among the 
rest my servant, whom I instantly sent for Dr. Green- 
wood. This gentleman, on examining the wound, observed 
a piece of cloth sticking out of the orifice, which he 
instantly drew out, and found it to be a piece of my green 
trowsers which the ball had left behind in passing through 
my knee. He begged me not to be alarmed, as it was one 
of the smaller arteries whence the quantity of blood had 
flowed. 

This trial gave me to understand that, although the 
soldier can cheerfully meet death in the field beside his 
comrades, he is a coward in the dark when alone. 

For their conduct on the 5th of May the men were 
honoured with pewter medals, in imitation of those of 
Waterloo. A despatch was also sent from Madrid, con- 
ferring the order of St. Ferdinand on those officers who 
had most distinguished themselves, amongst whom I was 
named as one. But the honour of the thing was almost 
lost in the indiscriminate manner in which it was dis- 
tributed. Numbers procured the distinction without the 
least claim to either skill or courage, and caused a deal of 
dissatisfaction amongst the really deserving officers, as the 
following humorous facts will sufficiently show. 

There were three captains billeted in the same house as 

myself, and amongst them a Captain , who, on the 

morning of the fight, left the field and took to his bed. 
The doctor, on visiting him, under the idea that he really 
was wounded, could discover, however, neither the least 
scratch, nor even bruise. This got wind, and naturally 
enough caused a stir amongst his brother officers, and the 
Captain was obliged to resign. But he had formerly been in 
the service of Don Pedro, and found a friend and powerful 



A SOLDIER. 259 

advocate in the person of his old chieftain, through whose 
interest he regained his captaincy, and, to the surprise and 
indignation of the chief part of the officers, actually in a 
few days attained a majority, and had the order 6f San 
Fernando conferred on him. Two officers of the Rifles 
also bought the same honour, at the price of a dozen of 
champagne. But this last was through the then acting 
Commander of the regiment. 

The Spanish Government, with their profusion of honours 
and pewter, also paid the officers their arrears up to the 
month of March, 1836, in bills on Colonel Carbonel, in 
London, at the time payable on delivery ; the last and only 
payment ever made during the service — the officers having 
been obliged to manage on their field-allowance. 

About this time we were joined by a number of con- 
valescents from Vittoria, consisting of officers and men. 
My old friend, Captain Plunkett, came with them. This 
veteran soldier, who had formerly served in the 60th 
Rifles, and was now on half-pay, by an apathy generally 
evinced to those of the British service, found himself 
spurned and deserted by the chief part of the officers of 
our regiment, who were, as before stated, almost entirely 
composed of Pedroites. He was, at this period, very poor, 
and was constantly seen in the market-place, selling his 
necessaries to procure the little requisites of an invalid. 
But through want and neglect he at last got a relapse, and 
took to his bed. In this extremity all he had was disposed 
of. But for my accidentally noticing his servant selling 
his first, and now the last, resource of a soldier, his 
sword! he might have died unnoticed. I hobbled, how- 
ever, as well as I could, to his quarters, and was only in 
time to witness his expiring agonies. Poor Plunkett, 
strange to say, was the creditor of the Spanish Government 
to the amount of one hundred and fifty pounds though he 
died actually through want. 

The gloom consequent on this, however, was not per- 
mitted long to settle. Our leisure moments in San Sebas- 
tian were ever pregnant with incident, and one scarcely 
occurred ere some new event monopolised the attention. 
I had proceeded but a short distance from mv deceased 

s 2 



260 ADVENTURES OF 

friend's quarters, when my glance was directed to a crowd 
of the Rifles clustered in confusion round a door-way. 
Another victim ! A poor fellow named Graham, through 
mistake, had entered an apartment where a woman lay in 
bed. On perceiving him she screamed out, and before the 
man could retire, her husband, alarmed by her cry, met 
him on the stairs, and without any parley, the Spaniard 
plunged a knife into his body. The unfortunate Rifleman 
lay weltering in his blood, and died a short time after. 
The assassin was never sought after, nor any means, either 
civil or military, taken to bring him to an account. He 
walked at large in the sunlight, and plainly exhibited to us 
how little was to be expected from the sympathies or 
vigilance of our officers. 

There is little interesting at this period of my career, 
excepting the casual scenes that came under my observa- 
tion during my strolls. Full opportunity was now pre- 
sented me to remark on the changes that had worked 
themselves on the manners, customs, and prejudices of the 
inhabitants, and the ridiculous and extreme folly of the 
fire-eaters of the Legion. I was now more a spectator than 
'an actor, and claim, of course, the proverbial superiority. 

Sometimes at morn, or early towards the evening, I 
amused myself in strolling about the walks of the neigh- 
bourhood. San Sebastian is rather pleasantly situated. 
To the left, as you approach this fort- crowned peninsula, 
the Urumea winds its course over some of the prettiest 
valley scenes I ever beheld. Its banks now exposed to the 
view the different positions and batteries of the conflicting 
parties. A little to the extreme in the same direction, and 
separated by a rising ground, some four miles across, is 
Passages, a town somewhat resembling Dartmouth, with 
this difference, that its port is formed by an inlet of the 
sea, and not by a river. To the right of the Urumea, 
and divided from it by a natural and narrow neck of land, 
the Bay of San Sebastian forms its oval basin, of navi- 
gable depth, with a point of land studded with a light- 
house, forming one boundary to the entrance, which is 
protected and completed by the steep, and castle on the 
other. A small island lies between them both, and on this 



A SOLDIER. 261 

Lord John Hay had raised a battery of cannon. My 
quarters were contiguous to the breech made by Wellington 
in 1813 — now distinguished only by the new appearance of 
the rebuilt wall. It was curious to notice, as I limped 
about, the little squads of duellists scattered here and 
there, and particularly towards the evening. " Twelve 
paces' 5 were all the "go," and they sometimes proved a 
dangerous distance ; for many of the combatants were 
seriously wounded. These were lamentable proofs of the 
heterogeneous character of the officers of the Legion ; for 
during the whole of my career in our own service, T never 
knew of but one duel, which proved fatal to one of the 
principals. 

These singularities in the Legion were never much to 
the taste or approbation of the Spaniards ; they naturally, 
however other changes might have influenced them, still 
clung to their old dislike of fighting, and rather looked 
upon us as so many powder-barrels, or rather monkeys, 
than as partaking in their own peculiar imperfections. 
But that spirit of bigotry which had formerly possessed 
the prejudices of the Spanish people had almost entirely 
vanished before the stride of improvement. This was 
most probably owing to the introduction of the foreign 
disputants during the last thirty-five years ! Scarcely a 
monk was to be found at this time, though the monasteries 
held their old situation. Even the lovely dark-eyed nuns 
had forsaken their cloisters, and seemed to breathe a new 
life under the more enlightened state ; as regarded religious 
enthusiasm, I was astonished at its decrease. On one 
occasion, among several others, I especially noticed it. 
This was evident on the festival of Corpus Christi ; the 
streets through which the procession wound were certainly 
hung with what a zealot might call the richest tapestry, 
but in which I could acknowledge scarcely anything but 
old carpets, women's dresses, and old bed counterpanes, 
&c. Triumphal arches were also erected, and the proces- 
sion was attended, as usual, by the civil and military 
authorities, and by detachments from the different regi- 
ments of the garrison with their bands preceding them : 
the priests and canons also thickly followed after them. As 



262 ADVENTURES OF 

they passed where several British officers and myself stood 
gazing amid a crowd of the inhabitants, I took oif my hat, 
but except two or three old women, who went on their 
knees, not one of the natives followed the example, or 
even showed the slightest respect. This dereliction at one 
time, in Spain, would not have escaped severe penance. In- 
deed, under the Duke of Wellington, the guards always 
turned out, and British soldiers were compelled to salute 
the Host as it passed. 

But in my strictures on the old Spanish intolerance, let 
me not forget a little circumstance reflecting a taint of the 
same nature, even from our own toleration-loving country- 
men. u Let me alone, and I will let you alone," is too 
quiet a doctrine for even sectarians : and the two great 
contending parties on such weighty matters can scarcely 
allow themselves breathing time, ere the bone of contention 
which they had laid aside, is again seized on by these little 
ones. The truth of this was brought very forcibly to my 
mind some few days after the festival, when on a visit to 
the cathedral of San Sebastian. I was amusing myself 
with staring at the paintings, &c, when my attention 
was diverted to a tall, gaunt-looking British marine, (the 
marines were doing duty with the Legion at this time), 
who entered one of the portals, as I thought, on the same 
errand as myself; turning himself about two or three 
times, and casting sundry contemptuous glances at the 
different images and embellishments, his eye chanced to 
alight on the person of an old official in a kneeling posture 
between two females, absorbed in prayer. The marine's 
eye brightened with indescribable expression. Taking off 
his cap, which till then he had neglected to do, and 
wiping down his long carroty wiry hair, over a low retiring 
forehead, which reminded me of Mawworm's in the play, 
he suddenly darted to the back of the priest : 

" Hypocrite, 5 ' he shouted, suddenly interrupting them, 
while he pointed to the crucifix before which they knelt ; 
" What do you expect by praying to those bits of timber ? 
Hath not the Lord said, 'Thou shalt not make to thyself 
any graven image/ &c." He was continuing, when the 
trio, as if electrified by the foreign accent, instantly started 



A SOLDIER. 263 

np, screaming out, and crossing themselves, "Que, que 
quiere usted ?" (What do you want ? what do you want ?) 
" Eh !" said he again, motioning them to the crucifix. 
cc Don't you know the second commandment, c Thou shalt 
not how down to them.' " The old man, terrified, imme- 
diately appealed to me for protection. I ordered the 
marine instantly to leave, and would have given him in 
charge of the guard, had I not discovered it was his over 
zeal and not drunkenness, as I at first imagined, agitated 
him so ; luckily for the methodist, there were only a few 
in the chapel, as had it heen in the time of service, the 
congregation would certainly have made a martyr of him. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Disorganised state of the Legion — Three months' pay — A holiday — The 6th and 
8th Scotch lay down their arms — Reasons — My wishes to retire from the 
Legion — I give up the command of the company — A reflection — I embark for 
Santander — Report myself to Colonel Arbuthnot — My new command — The 
convent of Carbon — Short description — Inhabitants of — First sample — A 
speculation — A Quarter-master's conscience — I place him under arrest — A 
horse! Ahorse! 

About this period nothing could exceed the disor- 
ganised state of the Legion (the men being now full six 
months in arrears of pay). Disgusted with the priva- 
tions they had endured through the Spaniards and their 
own officers, and clamorous for their money, they at last 
broke out into open mutiny, and carried it to such a pitch, 
that they even refused to mount guard, much less meet the 
enemy, unless their demands were satisfied. Three 
months' pay, at length, by a general levy on the inha- 
bitants, was with difficulty procured, and given to them. 
But the confusion, nevertheless, grew even more terrible. 
The whole neighbourhood instantly became one scene of 
uproar and beastly intoxication: the guard-houses were 
nightly filled with men, and every hedge and ditch was 
strewed with drunken soldiers. Had the Carlists attempted 
to surprise the Legion quartered in the villages and farm- 
houses in advance of San Sebastian, I have no doubt that 



264 ADVENTURES OF 

not ten of a company would have been found able to stand 
to their arms, and the whole must have been cut to pieces. 
Many of the unfortunates who had so abused their hard 
earnings, found themselves wofully deficient the next 
morning, the more sober or wide awake ones having picked 
their pockets during their insensibility. These, however, 
on discovering their deficiency, in turn took to robbing 
their comrades even of great- coats, shirts, shoes, and even 
their rations. This became so universal, that complaints 
to the officers became altogether useless, for scarcely one 
could " cast the first stone." 

I must here remark, that a great number of the men had 
enlisted only for a twelvemonth, and held documents to 
that effect, signed by the officers who enlisted them. 
Their time of service was now up, and whole companies of 
the 6th and 8th Scotch gave notice to their officers, and 
the next day followed it up. I was present when they 
piled arms, and hung their accoutrements upon them. 
The whole Legion, however, was in such a state of in- 
subordination, that it was with much ado they could 
muster enough men to march the delinquents to the castle 
(which was effected after all only by stratagem), from 
whence they were shipped on board a steamer to Santander 
and Santona. 

I now began to feel tired of an inactive life ; and as my 
wounds were of a nature to disable me for future service, 
I expressed a wish to the General then commanding the 
brigade, that a medical board should examine me. He 
spoke to the Adjutant-General on the subject, who 
suggested that a month or two at Santander might recover 
and enable me to rejoin. To this, I of course consented, 
and got in readiness for starting. I made up my books, 
and settled with my company, up to the last day of April, 
1836, giving credit to the Spanish Government for one 
sergeant-major, five sergeants, three corporals, and sixteen 
rank and fife, who died in hospital at Vittoria. I gave up 
the command to my first lieutenant, de Burgh. 

I was not a little delighted at the anticipated change of 
scene, and looked anxiously for the time of my departure. 
San Sebastian, at one time so welcome to me, from pride 



A SOLDIER. 265 

and military reminiscences, had now sunk into the medley 
of strange and indescribable events I had so lately partook 
in. I was on the point of leaving — perhaps for ever — a 
Legion from which I had expected so much, but now, alas ! 
nothing. Truly, with Hamlet, I might have exclaimed — 

Take it for all in all, 

I ne'er shall look upon its like again . 

Nor did I ever wish it — so much abused, badly used, and 
worse officered. 

After getting my little necessaries packed, and on board, 
accompanied by my servant, I embarked for Santander. 
I must leave it to the reader to imagine my feelings when 
on the deck of the { James "Watt 5 steamer, as it weighed 
anchor, and carefully made head out of the harbour. 
Little did I anticipate how great a change was to be pre- 
sented before me : the horrors of Vittoria sank into insig- 
nificance before those of the convent to which I was on 
my way. 

In the course of thirty-six hours we reached our desti- 
nation, over a distance of about one hundred miles. I 
landed immediately, and proceeded to report myself to the 
Commandant, Colonel Arbuthnot's quarters, from whom I 
received orders to go instantly and take charge of the 
convent of Carbon. 

The convent of Carbon is situated at the extremity of a 
bleak morass, about four miles from Santander, and pre- 
sents one of the most gloomy aspects imaginable. It is a 
large square building, enclosing an extensive court and 
colonnade, and has much the appearance of what it really 
now was — a great gaol. The ground arouncl it is almost 
impassable for a dry foot, particularly in damp weather. 
Napoleon, during his stay in the neighbourhood, made it 
once his resting-place for a night, and reviewed his army 
on some of the adjacent grounds. The monks who had 
then, and up till very lately occupied it, were scattered 
about in the neighbouring hamlets, and were depending on 
small pensions granted them for their losses by the 
Spanish Government, and on the charity of the peasantry. 
The convent had long been a depot for the auxiliaries, and 



266 ADVENTURES OF 

a sort of magazine for stores, ammunition, &c. The Com- 
mandant was generally some field-officer, whose power was 
almost despotic, and particularly secure from complaint, as 
Colonel Arbuthnot seldom if ever visited it. 

On my arrival, the first thing that caught my attention 
was a number of Spanish sentries posted round the different 
entrances and inside. On entering I beheld a miserable- 
looking group, seemingly belonging to the Legion. Anxious 
to see the Commandant whom I was to relieve, I found 
him in bed, in almost the last stage of fever ; his name 
was Deacon, Captain of the 1st regiment; he had formerly 
been a Lieutenant in the British Marines. There were 
also, besides, several officers convalescent, and a number of 
men disabled through wounds, &c. But the major part of 
the inmates were composed of the 6th and 8th Scotch, to 
the number of two hundred and fifty — being the men who 
had laid down their arms at San Sebastian, The officer 
appointed to officiate during the Commandant's illness, was 
the Quarter-master of the depot, and one who might be 
well compared to a land-shark. 

I had scarcely left the sick Captain's quarters, when 
one of the Rifles placed in my hand a small bit of paper 
written on with a pencil, and begging me to call at the 
guard-house and see their condition. I followed him 
immediately, and was proceeding to open the door, when 
an effluvium of the most fetid description obliged me to 
retire outside the building. I gave instant orders for the 
prisoners to come out, and fall in before me ; and out came 
thirty-six of the most cadaverous-looking objects man ever 
beheld. The room from which they thronged, and their 
misery- stricken haggard forms and countenances, would 
have well typified the horrors of the Hole of Calcutta. It 
had been formerly used as a stable by the monks : the 
only window was now blocked up by the miserable beings 
to keep out the northern blast. 

Here, upon inquiry, I was informed they had been 
placed on nothing more or less than a speculation of the 
Quarter-master's, who taking advantage of an order issued 
by Colonel Arbuthnot u to deprive all prisoners of their 
meat and wine," had confined these invalids (for that they 



A SOLDIER. 267 

really were), and was in the habit of occasionally sending 
the proceeds and selling them at Santander : of this I 
afterwards found every proof. I, of course, immediately 
released the whole, ordering them to their rooms ; and the 
next morning gave directions for every one to fall in, 
prisoners as well as invalids. It would be impossible to 
portray a faithful picture of the miserable creatures before 
me. They stood like beings just come out of the grave : 
their eyes sunk in their heads, and their countenances, with 
want, filth, and the confinement, hardly recognizable. 
Scarcely a dozen of them had even jackets or shirts, and 
not one either shoes or stockings, and many were covered 
only with a ragged rug. Their daily allowance had been 
a pound and a half of black bread, and water ad libitum ; 
and if they strayed beyond the boundaries to get a little 
maize or Indian corn to eke out their miserable pittance, 
they had, perhaps, a leaden bullet from the Spanish sentry, 
to digest, for their temerity. 

But in this there was but little difference between the 
prisoners and the invalids, excepting in the rations, the 
latter having meat and wine ; but even thus they were but 
little better off — the meat being most unfairly dealt out to 
them, and the wine measured in a tin, out of which it 
escaped as through a cullender. This utensil, from its 
antique appearance, seemed to have been one of those used 
by the fifty daughters of Danaus, who could not have 
been better provided. 

After a few days, and as soon as I got a little settled, I 
determined on searching into the cause ; and, as a first 
step, on an opportunity offering, ordered the Quarter- 
master under an arrest, which he refused to answer, but 
taking horse, rode off to Santander. I had been influenced 
to this by perceiving one day a quarter of beef and other 
things, waiting in a cart at the gate to be sent to town. 
On my asking him about them, I was answered that they 
were surplus provisions, sent by the Depot Commissary, 
and he was sending them back; but guessing the true 
cause, I did as above. 

I, however, as quickly procured one of the Lancers' 
horses and set off after him, and succeeded in bringing 



268 ADVENTURES OF 

him to a court of inquiry some short time after. I had 
innumerable witnesses, and amongst them his own sergeant 
and the sergeant-major. But the court was either ineffi- 
cient or something worse ; so that the affair was bolstered 
up, and he escaped to resume his old tricks— which, how- 
ever I counteracted as much as lay in my power. But he 
was a cunning fellow ; and if bribery could have gained 
me, he certainly tried it on, for never was a table better 
provided than mine and the officers who messed with me. 

But I had my eye on him, like an old soldier's on a 
fugleman, and watched his every movement. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

An orderly dragoon puts us all in confusion — A stir — Retreat upon Santander—- 
The dangers of forgetfulness — Cure for a fever — We return to our old quarters 
— Captain Shields and Major Clark's visit — An appeal — A new mode of raising 
" Volunteers" — Glory or death by famine — One hundred and twenty men are 
starved into the service again — Scene in Santander — British soldiers and sub- 
jects — More assassinations — A cold-blooded Spaniard — A peace-loving Com- 
mandant — Captain Oakley and his " cats" — Continued horrors of the convent 
— Assassination — A relief from purgatory— A conclusion. 

In consequence of the weakened state of the garrison 
and the convent, the inhabitants and Commandant of 
Santander were in constant fear of incursions from the 
enemy, who seemed to be beating about the neighbour- 
hood. Indeed, at one time they crossed a river, some 
three leagues distant from the town, on the Madrid road, 
by means of pontoons, obliging the Spanish troops doing 
duty thereabouts to retire upon Santander. 

One evening an orderly dragoon came post haste from 
Colonel Arbuthnot, to inform me that the Carlists were 
beating about our quarters, with orders to hold myself, and 
the whole of the prisoners and convalescents, in readiness 
to leave the convent at a moment's notice ; but not to 
stir until the Spanish guard doing duty over the convent 
had retired, in which case our retreat was to be covered 
by them. — Covered by them indeed ! Here was a pretty pre- 
dicament ! upwards of three hundred British soldiers, with- 
out arms, under the auspices of a parcel of Spaniards ! We 



A SOLDIER. 269 

had not a single stand of fire-arms, excepting my servant's 
rifle ; for even the Lancers, that were performing orderly 
duty, had been deprived of all but their swords. I instantly 
sent for the sergeant-major, and acquainted him with the 
orders received, directing him to get the men in readiness. 
I then ordered a couple of the Lancers to ride round and 
reconnoitre, and being assured by the Captain of the 
Spanish guard of his duly warning me before he marched, 
I laid myself full dressed on my bed. 

I had just dozed off, when in drove two of the dragoons, 
informing me that our Spanish guard had retired, and that 
there was every reason to believe that the Carlists were 
in the wood behind the convent, indeed that we were 
surrounded ; here was a blessing, not even shaving time 
allowed us by the Carlists. However, I instantly ordered 
the men to fall in as quietly as possible, and putting them 
under the command of Lieutenant de Becker of the 6th, 
and placing Captain Deacon (who at the time had blisters 
applied to his head and breast) on an old door, borne 
on the shoulders of men, off they started. Having thus 
cleared the convent, the sergeant-major, a few dragoons, 
and some Irishmen armed with sticks, covered their retreat. 
As we were about to follow the rest, two Spanish soldiers 
made their appearance, nearly out of breath, with their 
muskets and bayonets fixed. It appeared that, in their 
hurried flight, they had forgotten the Captain's cloak. 
Here was a lucky chance 1 — Up went their heels and down 
they went on their backs, and, in a twinkling, their mus- 
kets and pouches were wrenched from them and shouldered 
for our own protection. The reader is, I expect, with his 
hair on end, anticipating some dreadful encounter ; but 
this, after all, turned out, like most of our air-castles to be 
nothing but a bottle of smoke — though contrary to expec- 
tation, it certainly saved the life of Captain Deacon, whose 
illness took a turn through the confusion, and he recovered 
rapidly. 

Fortunately the night was of a fine starlight, and we 
reached Santander at about three in the morning, and dis- 
covered that the whole blunder was occasioned by the 



2/0 ADVENTURES OF 

Spanish troops moving without orders ; we of course 
returned to our old quarters. 

Shortly after this, two officers — Captain Shields of the 
8th, and Major Clark of the 6th, were sent from head- 
quarters to persuade, if possible, the men to rejoin their 
regiments. They requested me to order them to fall in ; 
which I did, — and the whole formed in a field opposite the 
convent. 

The two officers, as their eyes first glanced on the 
gloomy ranks before them, stared in silent astonishment. 
" Good God !" at length ejaculated Shields, with deep 
emphasis, " can it be possible that these men once formed 
my old company, the grenadiers !" It was too true. 

Clark, stepping forward, appealed to them as their old 
officer, and pathetically begged of them to listen. Shields 
did the same. But they would not, they said, say or do 
anything until Captain Costello had given his opinion, on 
whom, as an old soldier, they relied for just and practical 
advice. 

At this, I of course came forward, and addressed them 
somewhat to this effect : 

That the winter was fast approaching, and it was the 
intention of the General to keep them there during that 
season : the privations consequently, which they would 
have to undergo would be even worse than those they had 
already experienced. Under these circumstances, therefore, 
and the prospect of better food, and the chances that 
might, more than probably, offer themselves for their 
escaping through the Pyrenees into France, which closely 
bordered on San Sebastian, I would strongly urge them to 
return to their regiments. I spoke to them as a man who 
had once borne a musket. Their claims I acknowledged as 
just.* 

Here they all produced their agreements, duly signed by 
the officer with whom they first engaged, to serve for one 
or two years, as might be preferred by the individual 

* Vide first article of conditions of service : 

" I. The time of service to be for one or two years, as may be preferred by the 
individual engaging to enter her Majesty's service. 



A SOLDIER. 2/1 

so entering the service of her Catholic Majesty the Queen 
of Spain. 

Being empowered to grant full rations to those who volun- 
teered, I also promised them immediate relief to their hunger. 

They requested a quarter of an hour's consideration, 
and in that time decided, on condition of farther certificates 
being given them, so that they should be obliged to serve 
only for the two years from the time they first engaged. 
These, signed by Colonel Arbuthnot and myself, were 
afterwards given them ; and a number, to the amount 
of fifty non-commissioned officers and privates, who that 
night volunteered, sat down, for the first time for many 
months, to a bellyful ; but these only were allowed it, 
which in this case was a wise though a cruel expedient, for 
that meal bought their birthright, and, for the sake of a 
similar supply to the cravings of nature, then almost 
extinct, eighty more signed their names, making in all one 
hundred and twenty.* 

The next morning it was my duty to march them to 
Santander, and embark them on board a steamer for San 
Sebastian. But to get them ready for this was a difficult 
task, for many of tbem had not even — as I before stated — 
clothing to cover their nakedness. The convent was ran- 
sacked everywhere ; all the old rugs were soon monopolized, 
and divided amongst them ; and even the old parchment 
records which had been left by the monks, were converted 
into covers for decency. 

I never shall forget the sight, as these poor fellows 

* The whole of these two regiments were almost entirely Scotch, a people 
whom I ever found justly submissive and brave. Each man of these signed his 
name himself; and, by the ready manner, gave full proof of their being well in- 
formed as well as intellectual. It will be recollected, also, that, up to the time 
of their laying down arms, they had carried them only on a matter of good faith ; 
for not one of them had taken the oath of allegiance to either the British or the 
Spanish Government. In the Rifles none laid down their arms or joined the 
discontented. I had raised them myself; and they were the only regiment that 
had not been buoyed up with false representations. The deficiency of allegiance 
was universal, I believe, in the Legion ; and, under these facts, I feel surprised 
that any man was punished by court-martial. They virtually were not a 
Spanish or a British force, and constituted mere camp followers, answerable 
only — with certain exceptions — to civil authorities, and not to their officers, 
who, I presume, are now accountable to British laws for the cruelties they 
inflicted. 



272 ADVENTURES OF 

slowly emerged from the convent. Numbers alone kept 
them going, when, perhaps, singly, each man would have 
died rather than have undergone such an exposure ; that 
blush which should have for ever dyed the cheeks of their 
oppressors, now mantled up those of the unfortunate 
victims, and they bent their heads in agony as they 
hurried through the streets of Santander. The inhabitants, 
struck at the melancholy procession, murmured, as they 
crowded after them, " Povres Ingleses ! povres Ingleses !" 
(poor English! poor English!) So much for the 
generous English, " defenders of the liberty of nations." 
It was a great relief to me to see them on board. I 
returned to Carbon the same evening, and found those 
whom I had left in a state of mutiny ; for two of their 
number had been wounded, during my absence, by the 
Spanish guard. One, belonging to the Lancers, had been 
shot through the arm ; the other, one of the 6th, had 
received a bayonet stab in the breast. This, I was informed, 
was occasioned by their having strayed beyond the bound- 
aries. I spoke to the Captain of the Spanish guard, on 
the cowardice of his men firing on the unarmed English. 
He answered me only with a shrug of the shoulder. My 
blood rose at his apathy — old times, when I myself had 
been, as it were, one of themselves, flashed across my 
memory, and lighted up the indignation that now stifled all 
thoughts of my rank and present distance. I felt as a 
man ; and could not forbear telling him, that, had his 
British victims been armed, I would have made him pay 
dearly for his cold-blooded villainy. But the phlegmatic 
scoundrel had neither courage nor sympathy, and so far 
from granting me the satisfaction I required of him, 
shrunk from me with the hangman's plea, that he had 
merely fulfilled orders. 

What most surprised me was, that the men, naked as 
they were, had not rushed on the Spaniards, and taken their 
arms from them. But on second reflection, I attributed 
this want of spirit to their half-starved, weakened con- 
dition — surrounded, too, as they were, by officers on whom 
even their claims of compatriotism seemed lost amid the 
general apathy to every manly feeling. 



A SOLDIER. 273 

I had the poor men conveyed to the general hospital, 
and put myself immediately in communication with Colonel 
Arbuthnot. But the gallant Commandant of Santander 
had become so completely Spanish, that no reply even was 
sent ; and I was obliged, at last, to press the matter per- 
sonally. 

" We must not quarrel with the Spaniards," was all I 
could get out of him. On my return I used every means 
in my power to alleviate their forlorn condition. But my 
authority, as Commandant, was a mere mockery, for we 
were entirely at the disposal of the Spanish guard. It was 
truly painful, despite the frequency of the scene, to witness 
the daily return of misery. Midnight, that hour when 
wretchedness generally forgets itself in sleep, seemed to 
have lost the influence here, its silence being broken by 
the passing footsteps of those unhappy men, as many 
passed the time telling me the oft repeated list of grievances, 
while they promenaded the gloomy avenues and colon- 
nades of the old convent. At times, and when the moon 
shone, the whole building had the appearance of a splendid 
mausoleum, and the sufferers as they passed from cell to 
cell, looked unearthly, and put me in mind almost of the 
fabled and ghastly inhabitants of the other world. 

By custom, however, we got so familiarized to every- 
thing revolting, that, at length, these horrors became as 
ordinary matters of course. A journalist would have 
thrown his pen aside, in the monotony of daily cruelty ; 
and I myself, by the lapse of a few years, am only now, as 
it were, aroused from the lethargy it had thrown me into. 
I look back with a thrill. I see them still, as it were, 
before me, — the fierce look ! — the quick order ! — the lash ! 
— and the gaunt, misery-stricken countenances of one hun- 
dred and fifty men, and all the changes their tyrants had 
rung amongst them ! 

Finding my complaints so unavailing, I made up my 
mind to quit the service ; and, intimating my wishes to 
head-quarters, that a medical board might examine my 
wounds, I handed over my commandantship to a Captain 
Oakley, of the 2nd Lancers. I met this gentleman on his 

T 



274 ADVENTURES OF 

way to the convent, with a couple of sets of cats, which 
he had procured from the British frigate — I helieve the 
* Castor' — then lying in the harbour of Santander. He 
pulled them out of his pocket, and, with an air well suited 
to his meaning, gave me to understand that he would have 
no " nonsense I" 

While awaiting an answer from head- quarters, I was 
obliged, much against my inclination, to remain at the con- 
vent. This, however, gave me an opportunity of witnessing 
his first essay at the command. The wants and privations 
the men had hitherto endured he did not deem sufficient ; 
and, as a last resort, they were, to the number of one 
hundred and fifty placed at the top of the building, in one 
room, the windows of which having been totally demolished, 
laid them open to the northern aspect, in the cold month 
of November, without even the poor advantage of a fire- 
place. Two Spanish soldiers were posted sentry, with 
loaded muskets, to prevent ingress or egress. One of these 
was employed to escort the men to the closet, one at a 
time, by day ; and, at night, a large tub, placed in the centre 
of the room, served every purpose till morning. 

I was one day on my return from Santander to this 
gloomy prison-house, when I met a party, bearing on their 
shoulders, the body of a man on a shutter, to the general 
hospital. On inquiry, I found his name to be John 
Bryant, of the 6th — an invalid, not a prisoner. This poor 
fellow, it appeared, while by order of Captain Oakley, in 
the act of cutting a few boughs, to make a broom to sweep 
the cloisters with, was watched by one of the Spanish sol- 
diers, and, while in the tree, deliberately shot. Poor Bryant 
fell instantly through the branches, mortally wounded, the 
ball entering at the breast and passing out at the shoulder. 
He died the same night ; but, as usual, his murder was 
not taken the slightest notice of. 

An order at length arrived, and a medical board having 
sat accordingly, I was pronounced, through wounds, unfit 
for further service. I packed up my traps, and hastened 
to leave the neighbourhood. I felt as few ever felt before : 
and, even now, seated in my family circle, though years 



A SOLDIER. 275 

have intervened, seem to breathe anew the freedom I ex- 
perienced at my deliverance from this worse than pur- 
gatory. > 

Thus ends my military career ; which, little as it can 
boast of leading incident, may yet prove interesting. I 
shall, however, feel contented if it but assist to wile away a 
dull hour, or keep alive the recollection of personal enter- 
prise among those of my veteran comrades whom war has 
permitted to live and peruse it. It is but a plain, unvar- 
nished attempt to relate my individual adventures ; and, 
perhaps, like the works of most men, might have amused 
its author, but for the fatigues and intricacies of compila- 
tion. " The fame of a scholar," an eminent writer has 
observed, " is acquired only in solitude ; and he connects 
but a chain of silent and cool reflection/' With me it is 
different : all my recollections are mixed up in extraordinary 
broils and confusions, which make it no easy task, from 
out so great a variety, to connect even the few incidents, 
thus huddled together in the 

Adventures of a Soldier. 



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